וון והקווןיוווד
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
2463
SIR,
40
No. 75.
COLONIAL OFFICE to FOREIGN OFFICE and TREASURY.
[Answered, Treasury, by No. 79.]
Downing Street, January 28, 1905. I'AM directed by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton to transmit to you, for the information
Chief Paymaster, Hong Kong, Decem-
her 8, 976.
To War Office, January 16, 976. War Office, January 25, 2463.
of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury,
Marquess of Lansdowne,
the accompanying copies of correspondence* with regard to hospital charges in respect of the members of the crew of the Russian, destroyer "Burni," who are now interned in Hong Kong, in the case of their admission to the Military Hospital.
3208
SIR,
No. 76.
I am, &c.,
C. P. LUCAS.
FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.
(Received January 31, 1905.) [Answered by Nos. 78 and 89.]
Foreign Office, January 30, 1905. WITH reference to your letter, 42642/1904, of the 29th of December last,t I am directed by the Marquess of Lansdowne to transmit to you, to be laid before the Secretary of State for the Colonies, the accompanying copy of a telegram from His Majesty's Ambassador at St. Petersburg, reporting that a painful Impression has been produced on the Emperor by the reports which have reached His Majesty of the treatment to which the crew of the "Burni," interned at Hong Kong, are sub-` jected by the Colonial Authorities.
A copy of the despatch which has been addressed to Sir C. Hardinge in reply is also enclosed.
I am to suggest, for Mr. Lyttelton's consideration, that the Governor of Hong Kong should be informed of the complaint made by the Russian Government, and that His Excellency should be requested to furnish any further observations which
wish to make in the matter.
I have, &c.,
he
may
F. A. CAMPBELL.
(No. 32.)
SIR,
47.
Enclosure 2 in No. 76.
THE MARQUESs of Lansdowne to Sir C. HARDINGE.
Foreign Office, January 30, 1905. I HAVE received Your Excellency's telegram, No. 15 of the 25th instant, reporting that a painful impression had been produced on the Emperor by the reports which had reached His Majesty respecting the treatment of the crew of the
Burni," interned at Hong Kong.
The Governor of Hong Kong, in his despatch of the 16th of November last year, of which a copy was forwarded to you in my despatch, No. 8 of the 10th instaut, stated that there had been difficulties with Sub-Lieutenant Pini, the officer in charge of the refugees, who was very young and did not quite realize the position of himself and his men.
It appears probable that Count Lamsdorff's communication was based on a report received from this Officer.
I request that, if you have not already done so, you will inform the Russian Government, as suggested by Sir M. Nathan, that the Governor fully sympathizes with the disagreeable nature of the position in Hong Kong of Lieutenant Pini and his men, and that everything has [been] and will be done to render that position as little irksome as possible, consistent with the precautions necessary to see that the men do not leave the Colony.
The complaint formulated by Count Lamsdorff will be at once communicated to the Governor for his observations.
I am, &c.,
His Excellency
The Right Honourable
Sir C. Hardinge, G.C.M.G., K.C.V.O.,
&c..
&c.,
3208
(Confidential.)
SIR,
&c.
No. 77.
LANSDOWNE.
CO. 882
8 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
Enclosure 1 in No. 76.
Sir C. HARDINGE (St. Petersburg) to the MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNE. (Sent 8.58 p.m., January 25; received 8 a.m., January 26.)
(3208/1905.) (Paraphrase.)
TELEGRAM.
No. 15. To-day, in conversation, Count Lamsdorff told me that a painful im- pression has been produced on the Emperor by statements made to him by naval authorities that the crew of the "Burni" at Hong Kong are treated like animals and not like prisoners of war. He expressed himself as incredulous of such reports, and asked me whether I could not give him some details to correct this impression. I told him that such reports were gross exaggerations, that of course some restraint was necessary in a port where the military garrison was small, but the fact that the sailors were allowed to walk about in groups of ten showed that such restraint was not excessive. I should be glad of any details with which your Lordship could furnish me to counteract such calumnies.
* Nos. 70, 71 and 73.
↑ Not printed: transmitting copy of No. 66.
MR. LYTTELTON to GOVERNOR SIR M. NATHAN. [Answered by No. 86]
Downing Street, February 2, 1905. WITH reference to your confidential report of the 16th of November last,* as to the attitude of Lieutenant Pini, I have the honour to transmit to you a copy of a letter from the Foreign Office, forwarding correspondence relative to certain complaints which have been communicated to the Russian Government of the treat- ment at Hong Kong of the Russian refugees from the "Burni," who are interned
I should be glad to be favoured with your observations on the subject at an carly date.
there.
3208
SIR,
No. 78.
I have, &c.,
ALFRED LYTTELTON.
COLONIAL OFFICE to FOREIGN OFFICE.
Downing Street, February 2, 1905.
I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 30th ultimo, forwarding copies of correspondence with His Majesty's Ambassador at St. Petersburg, with regard to certain complaints which have been communicated to the Russian Government as to the treatment of the Russian refugees who are interned at Hong Kong.
20111
• No. 66.
↑ No. 76.
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