Translation of despatch from kr, Chao-Cha su to sir miles
Jampson, Hanking. End Lecember, 1928.
214
Your xcellency,
1.
I have the honour to draw your attention to
the case of the s.Ü. Irene" which constitutes a flagrant instance of disregard of international law and the dictates
of humanity.
2.
The
sufficient time has elapsed for the outstærðing facts of the case to come to light and the following statezent of the facts may be taken as undisputed. #.# "Irene", of some 800 tons, flying the Chinese flag, was proceeding from shanghai to Amoy with passengers and cargo when she was seised, on the 19th of October 1927, by bandits who had bearded her as passengers. They proceeded to rob the passengers and compelled the officers to iter course to Bias Bay, near longkong. The vessel pawand severel
ships without molesting them.
On the evening of the 20th
shile approaching with darkened lights her enforoad desti- nation, she was sighted by a British warship, the submarine "L.**. His suspicions aroused, the commander of the sub-
rine signaled to the "Irene" to stop and played his
searchlight on her.
When he found that his signals were
not heeded, and that a blank shot and warning shots across the bow did not have the desired eff ot, he fired five or six solid shots and explosive shells into her at approximatel
The ship was disabled and, fire breaking
300 yard range.
out.
she sank with all her cargo. Of the 258 passengers
least were killed or drowned.
and crew on board,
His Excellency
sir iles Lampson,
His Britanie kajesty's Envoy Extraordinary
and Minister Plenipotentiary,
Peking.