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I have ventured to bring this matter to Your Lordship's notice, as although the objections raised by the crews in the circumstances described by Mr Holmes appear to be clearly untenable, a case of a kindred nature may arise in which the seamen's refusal to work may be due to there being real danger of capture. In such cases I should be in doubt as to what course should be pursued, and I should, therefore, be very glad to be supplied with any observations which may occur to the Board of Trade as likely to be useful for my guidance.
A more serious case than those reported by Mr Holmes occurred at Yokohama some weeks ago, the circumstances of which have been reported to the Board of Trade by Mr Acting Consul General Hobart Hampden. The case was that of the Steamship "Ras Bera" - a British ship under Japanese charter, whose crew refused duty on the ground that the ship was carrying contraband of war to a Japanese port. Mr Hobart Hampden held a Naval Court which decided that carrying contraband of war was no justification for the men's refusal to work. It therefore forfeited their wages and discharged them from the ship.
I shall be interested to learn whether the decision of this Naval Court has been approved by the Board of Trade.
I have:
(Signed)
etc.
Claude M. Macdonald.
P.S. I enclose an extract from a private letter from Mr Holmes from which Your Lordship will see that the Master of the "Ashley" one of the three vessels referred to in this despatch had already had difficulties with his crew at Hongkong.
(Signed) C. M. Macdonald