10787
47
No. 85.
The Secretary,
His Majesty's Treasury,
Whitehall, S.W.
9092
SIR,
No. 83.
I have, &c.,
E. W. D. WARD.
SIR
COLONIAL OFFICE to FOREIGN OFFICE.
[Copy to Governor, April 12, 1905. Confidential, 1.F.]
[Answered by No. 84.]
Downing Street, March 25, 1905. WITH reference to the letter from this Department of the 28th of January* respecting the hospital charges to members of the crew of the Russian destroyer "Burni," I am directed by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton to transmit to you, to be laid before the Marquess of Lansdowne, the accompanying copies of two letters from the Treasury on the subject.
His Lordship will observe that the Lords Cammissioners propose that the Russian Consul at Hong Kong should be consulted as to whether the Russian Government are prepared to accept as a charge against them the full cost of the issues made to the men in hospital, with or without stoppages from their money allowances. I am to ask whether Lord Lansdowne concurs in this proposal, and, if not, what other course he would recommend.
10787
SIR,
No. 84.
I am, &c.,
C. P. LUCAS.
FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received April 4, 1905.)
[Copy to Governor, Confidential, and to Treasury, April 12, 1905. L.F.]
[Answered by No. 94.]
Foreign Office, April 1, 1905.
I LAID before the Marquess of Lansdowne your letter, 9092/1905, of the 25th ultimo, respecting the hospital charges to members of the crew of the Russian destroyer "Burni" now interned at Hong Kong.
I am directed to state, in reply, that Lord Lansdowne concurs in the proposal of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury that the Russian Consul at Hong Kong should be consulted as to whether the Russian Government are prepared to accept, as a charge against them, the full cost of the issues made to the men in hospital, with or without stoppages from their money allowances.
I am, however, to call your attention to the letter from this office of September 5th, 1904, § and to say that Lord Lansdowne is of opinion that in view of the cir- cumstances the matter might be left in abeyance pending the conclusion of the war, when the claim for the general expenses of the internment, including the item under this heading, will be presented to the Russian Government.
I am, &c.,
F. A. CAMPBELL.
• No. 75.
† Nos. 79 and 82.
‡ No. 83.
§ No. 33.
COLONIAL OFFICE to WAR OFFICE.
[Copy to Treasury, and to Governor, Confidential, April 12, 1905. L.F.J
Downing Street, April 8, 1905. WITH reference to your letter of the 25th of January, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton to transmit to you, to be laid before the Army Council, the accompanying copies of correspondence† with the Treasury and Foreign Office on the subject of hospital stoppages in the case
Treasury, February 23, (5958). Treasury, March 22, (9002).
To Foreign Office, March 25 (2092). Foreign Office, April 1, (10787).
of the crew of the Russian destroyer "Burni" at Hong Kong.
2. As the matter does not appear to directly concern this Department or the Colonial Government Mr. Lyttelton would be glad if the Army Council would give the Army Paymaster at Hong Kong such instructions as they think fit.
13440
No. 86.
I am, &c.,
H. BERTRAM COX.
GOVERNOR SIR M. NATHAN to MR. LYTTELTON. (Received April 22, 1905.)
(Confidential.)
SIR,
Government House, Hong Kong, March 16, 1905.
In reply to your confidential despatch of the 2nd ultimo, ‡ I have the honour to transmit the enclosed copy of a report from the General Officer Commanding the troops in South China, on the subject of the complaints communicated to the Russian Government of the treatment at Hong Kong of the Russian refugees from the "Burni," who are interned here. I also enclose a copy of a letter I have received from the Russian Consul, whom I informed of the statements said to have been made by the Naval Authorities to His Imperial Majesty the Czar.
2. Major-General Hatton's report and M. de Bologowskoy's letter leave no room for doubt that these statements were false, and I trust that it will be found possible to convey this to the high authority to whom the statements were made. am satisfied that the treatment of the refugees has been, and continues to be, humane and sympathetic.
SIR,
(Confidential.)
I have, &c.,
M. NATHAN,
Governor, &c.
Enclosure 1 in No. 86.
(1824/1905/C.O.D. Confidential.)
Headquarter Office, Hong Kong, March 10, 1905.
In reply to Your Excellency's letter of the 8th instant:-
1. I have to remark that the Russian seamen have been treated in all respects
as I would expect to be treated myself in similar circumstances I have never even called them prisoners.
2. I have inspected them all personally, and am continually informed as to their welfare by Major Sexton, of the Indian Army, who is in charge of their camp. 3. When I first took charge of the Russians, Sub-Lieutenant Pini informed me that he declined to take any orders from any foreign officer, but that he should appeal to "St. Petersburg." I told him that I fully sympathised with him in the position he was in, but that there were certain "orders of mine which must be
• No. 73.
† Nos 79, 82, 13 and 84.
No. 77.
་ '།། ཟ། །། །། །
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :→
C.O. 882
8 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO