CONFIDENTIAL
FOR USE OF EASTERN No. 94.
COLONIAL OFFICE,
C. O.
431755
D(C 04)
December 22, 1904.
Sir:-
I am directed by the Marquess of Lansdowne to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 16th instant respecting the refusal of the crew of the Steamship "Bawtrey" to proceed from Hong Kong to Vladivostok.
With regard to paragraph 6 of the Governor of Hong Kong's despatch, inclosed therein, in which he suggests that the opinion of the Law Officers should be communicated to him, I am to point out that in a footnote to the same despatch Sir M. Nathan acknowledges the receipt of the telegram sent him by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton, in which it is distinctly stated that the Law Officers have not been consulted in the matter.
It appears to Lord Lansdowne that the better course would be for the Magistrate to decide such cases.
The Under Secretary of State,
Colonial Office.
4/763
+3777