Q
COPY.
1Rree
C. O.
S002
PC 92 MAR 05]
84
027/146 (Q.M.G.6)
WAR OFFICE,
LONDON, S.W.
8th March 1905.
Sir,
I am by command of the Army Council to acknowledge the receipt of Treasury letter of the 23rd ultimo No.1829 05 and in reply to acquaint you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury, that in certain cases in the past when sailors of foreign navies have had to be admitted into hospitals at British Military stations, no charge has been made on them, and consequently it was decided not to recover hospital stoppages from the members of the crew of the Russian destroyer "BURNI" interned at Hong Kong.
As, however, it is understood that the intention in this case
is to recover from the Russian Government the actual expenses incurred in connection with the detention, it does not appear
to matter financially whether a stoppage is made from the
men's pay or not, provided that in either case the actual
cost of the issues made in hospital is recovered from the
Russian Government.
Instructions were sent by cable to the General
Officer Commanding, Hong Kong, on the 5th January last that
free treatment might be given to the men in question.
If their Lordships so wish, instructions will now be cabled that the hospital stoppage of 7d. a day ordinarily enforced from British soldiers is to be made; though it would appear to the Army Council that this is perhaps a
The Secretary,
His Majesty's Treasury,
Whitehall, S.V.
matter
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