No 93
OFFICE
In the reply to this Letter the following Number should be quoted.
14801
04
Pri
C
-30588
IRECP
257
[REG 1 SEP 04]
TREASURY CHAMBERS,
3 August 1904.
Sir,
I have laid before the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury Mr. Lucas's letter of the 25th instant (29673/1904) relative to the case of the officers and men of the Russian destroyer "Burni" (wrecked near Wei-hai-wei) who are to be interned at Hong Kong until the conclusion of the Russo-Japanese war.
My Lords think that the Russian Government should be approached concerning the expenses of entertainment and internment of their nationals and that a request may be addressed to that Government that the expenses actually incurred may be repaid direct to the Government of Hong Kong on presentation of a vouched monthly account certified by the latter. If, as My Lords assume, the Admiralty will have a claim to prefer for expenses of interning these Russian Officers and men on board the "Tamar", it will perhaps be considered advisable to bring this claim to the notice of the Russian Government at the same time.
Subject to this, My Lords have no objection to the course proposed.
+
Under Secretary of State,
Colonial Office.
I am,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
Robt. Halmer