31204
9'
No. 19.
GOVERNOR SIR M. NATHAN to MR. LYTTELTON. (Received 12.0 noon, September 7. 1904.) TELEGRAM.
31193
No. 17.
MR. LYTTELTON to GoVERNOR SIR M. NATHAN.
(Sent 6.0 p.m., September 6, 1904.)
TELEGRAM.
[Answered by Nos. 19 and 34.]
Referring to your telegram of September 3rd.* Shipowners state they have received telegram to the effect that Hong Kong Government insist on crew returning on "Inkum "instead of being repatriated as distressed British subjects in accordance my telegram of 2nd September.f Is it true? Telegraph reply.
[See No. 30.]
Statement of "Inkum" shipowners incorrect. stated in my telegram of 3rd September.*
Crew will be sent home (in) as
31193
No. 20.
TELEGRAM.
:-"Statement
COLONIAL OFFICE to J. H. WELSFORD & CO., LTD. (Sent 1.40 p.m., September 7, 1904.)
[Answered by No. 22.]
Your letter of 6th.† Following cable received from Hong Kong:- [see No. 19] 3rd September."
31193
31205
No. 21.
No. 18.
J. H. WELSFORD & CO., LTD., to COLONIAL OFFICE.
(Received September 7, 1904.)
[Answered by Nos. 20 and 25.]
Gulf Transport Line, 17, Water Street, Liverpool, DEAR SIR,
September 6, 1904. We confirm our wire of date as per copy herewith. We were informed, through the Board of Trade, that arrangements had been made for the "Inkum crew to be returned as soon as possible as distressed seamen. Following that came a message from our Captain asking what expenses he was to pay there. Our arrange- ment with the Board of Trade being that we would be responsible for whatever we were legally responsible to pay, we cabled the Captain to pay nothing there, assuming the authorities would make any charges they had for the men as distressed seamen at Hong Kong, through the Board of Trade, and to our great surprise we had a fur- ther cable stating that the authorities have put the crew aboard. This is exceedingly arbitrary action on their part, and should not have been adopted without further reference to us through your office.
We trust that you will have sent a cable which will end this matter finally, other- wise the authorities will be adding seriously to the complication, expense, and respon- sibility they have already brought about.
We shall be obliged if you will wire us in the morning that this matter is arranged.
We will not take this crew in the ship, for reasons stated, fearing trouble with coolies.
We are, &c., FOR J. H. WELSFORD & CO., LIMITED,
J. H. WELSFORD,
Managing Director.
J. H. WELSFORD & CO., LTD., to COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received September 7, 1904.)
TELEGRAM.
[Answered by No. 25.]
May we suggest that to simplify matters you cable Hong Kong authorities send their accounts through Board of Trade for settlement here, we undertaking to faith- fully adjust same with you or whoever you appoint? This difficulty appears to have arisen over accounts of cost of crew's detention Hong Kong. For your guidance we have instructed our agents to pay whatever authorities demand under protest. Very anxiously awaiting your reply as fear complications arising with coolies people.
31326
DEAR SIR,
No. 22.
J. H. WELSFORD & CO., LTD., to COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received September 8, 1904.)
17, Water Street, Liverpool, September 7, 1904.
WE are obliged for your wire of date. If the matter is as was stated in the communication to us, and "Inkum" crew are being returned as distressed seamen, the matter is in order; but notwithstanding the message received to-day, it extraordinary that the authorities should have acted in the manner that they did so lately as yester- day in insisting that the crew should return to the "Inkum." No doubt your second cable has put the matter in order.
We are obliged for your prompt action in the matter, and if we have any further difficulty, we will communicate with you again. We confirm our wire of to-day's date.§
We are, &c.,
For J. H. WELSFORD & CÓ.,
LIMITED,
A. RUSHTON.
No. 12.
† No. 18.
+ No. 20.
§ No. 21.
20087
B
• No. 12.
† No. 11.
‡ No. 16.
וזן
1 2 3 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 882
8 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TOPage 421
31547
ΤΟ
No. 23.
J. H. WELSFORD & CO., LTD., to. COLONIAL OFFICE.
DEAR MR. Lucas,
(Received September 8, 1904.)
"}
Gulf Transport Line, 17, Water Street, Liverpool,
September 8, 1904. DOUBTLESS the "Inkum crew matter is now in order, but for your guidance I think it right to inform you that on Tuesday last the authorities in spite of the Captain's protests put the European crew aboard the "Inkum." Yesterday they were taken off again.
In due course we will receive particulars of this matter, but it is clear that the action of the authorities is hardly conducive to instilling confidence in the minds of British shipowners in regard to their interests in the Far East.
Yours, &c.,
J. H. WELSFORD.
11
3. It would seem that your agents in Hong Kong had not been careful to ascer tain the actual facts of the case before despatching the cable to which your telegram referred, and Mr. Lyttelton would be glad if you would cause enquiry to be made as to their reasons for sending you an apparently erroneous report.
13
4. I am also to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of the 7th instant* with regard to the accounts for the cost of the detention of the crew of the "Inkum in Hong Kong.
In order to avoid any further misunderstanding and ad onal expenditure on telegrams it appears to Mr. Lyttelton to be desirable to await the Governor's full report on the case before taking any further action.
$1205
No. 26.
I am, &c.,
C. P. LUCAS.
| | | | | | | |
31174
(No. 268.)
SIR,
No. 24.
MR. LYTTELTON to GOVERNOR SIR M. NATHAN.
[Copy to Board of Trade, September 13, 1904. L.F] [Answered by No. 45.]
Downing Street, September 8, 1904.
I HAVE the honour to transmit to you a copy of a letter from the Board of Trade with regard to the case of the S.S." Auchenardin," of Glasgow.
2. I should be glad if you would furnish me with a full report on this matter at an early date.
I have, &c.,
ALFRED LYTTELTON.
SIR,
COLONIAL OFFICE to BOARD OF TRADE.
[Answered by No. 31.]
Downing Street, September 8, 1904. I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 6th instant† and to enclose, for the information of the Board of Trade, copies of further correspondence with the Government of Hong Kong and Messrs. Welsford with regard to the S.S." Inkum."
I am, &c.,
C. P. LUCAS.
SCHEDULE OF ENCLOSURES.
1. Messrs. Welsford & Co. Telegram. September 6.
2,
To Governor, Hong Kong. Telegram. September 6.
3.
Messrs. Welsford & Co.. September 6.
4.
Governor. Telegram. September 7.
5.
Messrs. Welsford & Co. September 7.
8.
To Messrs. Welsford & Co. September 8.
‛| ། 3།
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :--
C.O. 882
8
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
31205
GENTLEMEN,
No. 25.
COLONIAL OFFICE to J. H. WELSFORD & CO., LTD.
[Answered by No. 28.]
Downing Street, September 8, 1904. I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram and letter of the 6th instant with regard to the S.S. "Inkum."
2. On the receipt of your telegram enquiries were addressed to the Governor of Hong Kong by telegraph and on the 7th instant§ the following reply was received:-
"Statement of "Inkum" shipowners incorrect. Crew will be sent home as
stated in my telegram of 3rd September." ||
This cable was repeated to you by telegram as soon as it was received. The pur- port of the telegram of 3rd September|| had already been communicated to you by the Board of Trade.
• No. 15.
† Nos. 16 and 18.
No. 17.
§ No. 19.
| No. 12.
31532
(No. 308.)
SIR,
No. 27.
GOVERNOR SIR M. NATHAN to MR. LYTTELTON.
(Received September 9, 1904.) [Answered by No. 29.]
Government House, Hong Kong, August 3, 1904.
I HAVE the honour to confirm the following telegram sent to you by Mr. May on the 28th ultimo§ in reply to yours of the 27th || concerning the case of the S.S. "Inkum":-
"Referring to your telegram of 27th July, Marine Magistrate declined convict crew refusal of duty because the agreements of crew did not mention carrying contraband cargoes Japan. Vessel carrying cargo of coal; crew unaware destination until arrival here."
2. The "Inkum " arrived here with a cargo of coal which has been declared con- traband by Russia. The crew seem to have discovered here for the first time that their destination was Japan and some of them then refused to proceed in the vessel.
• No. 21.
20087
† No. 14.