10
Have Japanese Government any evidence which they can communicate to us of crew of latter having broken parole?
What are other reasons alluded to by Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs for insisting upon internment?
30084
11
from the Russian Government for the repatriation of the officers and crew of the Russian destroyer "Burni."
LL
Z. With regard to Lord Lansdowne's suggestion that, pending the decision as to their repatriation, the Russian officers and seamen should remain on board the Tamar," my Lords desire me to state that they will offer no objection to this arrangement, on the understanding that it is only adopted temporarily, and that, if it be decided not to send the officers and crew back to Russia, the naval authorities will be at once relieved of their presence in the "Tamar."
3. A copy of this letter has been sent to the Colonial Office and War Office.
No. 20.
COLONIAL OFFICE to WAR OFFICE.
SIR,
Downing Street, August 27, 1904. I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 26th of August,* with regard to the internment of the officers and men of the Russian destroyer " Burni," and to request you to inform the Army Council that the alteration of the decision to intern them at Hong Kong is not contemplated.
I am to take this opportunity of transmitting a copy of a letter which has been addressed to the Foreign Office with regard to the measures to be adopted for the internment.
I am, &c.,
The Under-Secretary of State,
Foreign Office.
30321
No. 23.
I am, &c.,
C. I. THOMAS.
30321
No. 21.
C. P. LUCAS.
GOVERNOR SIR M. NATHAN to MR. LYTTELTON. (Received 9.3 a.m., August 29, 1904.)
TELEGRAM.
[Answered by No. 28.]
Have I authority to release on parole within the island of Hong Kong four naval officers from Russian man-of-war "Burni," under conditions that would be sufficient, in my opinion, to prevent them obtaining information of Colonial defences?
SIR,
COLONIAL OFFICE to FOREIGN OFFICE.
[Answered by No. 27.]
Downing Street, August 30, 1904. WITH reference to the letter from this Department of the 25th instant, with regard to the arrangements to be made with regard to the Russian officers and men from the "Burni," I am directed by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton, to transmit to you
a copy of a telegramt from the Governor of Hong Kong asking whether four officers may be released on parole within the island of Hong Kong.
I am to enquire what reply should, in the opinion of the Marquess of Lansdowne, be returned to Sir M. Nathan.
I am, &c.,
C. P. LUCAS.
30573
No. 24.
30476
SIR,
(Confidential:)
No. 22.
ADMIRALTY to COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received August 30, 1904.)
Admiralty, August 29, 1904. WITH reference to previous correspondence relative to the internment of the officers' and crew of the Russian torpedo boat destroyer "Burni," I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to enclose, for the information of Mr. Secretary Lyttelton, a copy of a letter of to-day's date on this subject which has been addressed to the Foreign Office.
(Confidential.)
Enclosure in No. 22.
I am, &c.,
C. I THOMAS.
SIR,
August 29, 1904. I AM commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acknow- ledge the receipt of your letter of the 26th instant, relative to the request received
(Confidential.)
SIR,
FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.
(Received August 31, 1904.)
[See No. 29.]
Foreign Office, August 31, 1904.
WITH reference to the letter from this office of the 21st [ 23rd] instant,‡ I am directed by the Marquess of Lansdowne to transmit to you, to be laid before the Secretary of State for the Colonies, a copy of a telegram from His Majesty's Minister at Tokyo respecting the disposal of the officers and crew of the Russian destroyer Burni."
(+
It will be observed that the Japanese Government disclaim any right to demand that the prisoners should be interned until the end of the war, but Lord Lansdowne is advised that such a request would be in accordance with their rights as belli- gerents and could not properly be refused.
The Russian Ambassador has accordingly been privately informed that the officers and men will be interned in British territory until the conclusion of hostilities.
A copy of Sir C. MacDonald's telegram has been sent to the Admiralty.
• No. 17.
↑ No. 15.
• No. 15.
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† No. 21.
‡ No. 13.
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
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