vii

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

TH

Reference :-

10885

9PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO

Berini

From or to whom,

No.

Despatch No.

Date.

30 Foreign Office

Confi- dential.

1904.

Dec. 7

31

To all Colonies on

Tele-

Dec. 8

the line of route of

gram.

Baltic fleet except

the Cape.

32

Foreign Office

38

Governor Sir J. Anderson (Straits).

Tele- gram.

Subject

Dec. 8

Encloses copy of a telegram from the Naval Commander-in-chief reporting that the German Government has con- sented to allow the Marshall Islands to be used as a base by the Baltic fleet, and that he has requested that careful watch should be kept colliers clearing from Australian ports.

on

Instructs them that ships of the Baltic fleet are not prohibited from entering British ports provided they leave within twenty-four hours; they may not receive supplies of fresh water, but leave parties may be landed.

of a despatch from the Transmits copy

Commander-in-chief, Cape of Good Hope, reporting that three German colliers are awaiting the Russian Baltic squadron at Angra Pequena.

(Rec. Dec. 9.) States, with reference to No. 24 a, that it would be of great assistance if the Bares of suspected colliers could be furnished, as the authorities have no power to examine ships' papers except by order of the Governor.

Requests him, in view of a possible Japanese attack on the Baltic fleet near Trincomalee, to take any possible pre- cautions to prevent the violation of territorial rights.

34

To Governor Sir H. A.

Blake (Ceylon).

Tele- gram.

Dec. 10

Page.

Serial

From or to whom.

No.

Despatch No.

Date.

1904.

19

41

Governor Sir J. Ander-

son (Straits).

Tele. gram.

Subject.

Page.

(Rec. Dec. 20.) | Quotes telegram received from His 23

Majesty's Consal in Netherlands India stating that the Netherlands Indian Government intend giving coaling facilities to Russian men-of-war to a limited extent.

42

To Acting Governor

19

Brook (Cape).

Tele-

gram.

Dec. 20

43

19

To Governor Sir J. Anderson (Straits).

Tele- gram,

Dec. 20

44

To Governor Sir H. A.

Blake (Ceylon).

Tele-

gram.

Dec. 20

20

45

To Foreign Office

Confi- dential.

Dec. 20

20

34A To

Governors of General. Colonies on line of Confi- route of Russian dential. Baltic fleet.

Dec. 10

Transmits copies of Nos. 24 B, 25 ▲, and

21

46

Foreign Office

Confi- dential.

Dec. 21

28,

35

Governor Sir H. A.

Blake (Ceylon).

Tele-

gram.

(Rec. Dec. 11.) States that he has no knowledge of any 21

Japanese ships of war near territorial waters.

47

36

Commander-in-chief,

Tele-

Cape of Good Hope,

gram.

Dec. 12 (Rec., Admi-

to Admiralty.

ralty, Dec. 12.)

States that the Russian hospital ship "Orel" has arrived at Table Bay, requires water, and is expecting a collier to arrive.

21

Governor Sir H. E. McCallum (Natal).

Tele- Dec. 22 gram 1. (Rec. Dec. 22.)

87

Governor Sir C. Boyle

(Mauritius).

Tele- gram.

(Rec. Dec. 14.) Enquires whether vessels of the Volunteer fleet and all the other war vessels are to be treated alike.

22

48

Governor Sir H. A.

Blake (Ceylon).

38

Το

Governora of

Australia, New Zea-

Tele-

gram.

Dec. 14

22

land, and Fiji,

39

To Governor Sir C.

Boyle (Mauritius).

Tele-

gram.

Dec. 15

40

Foreign Office

Dec. 16

Transmits instructions with regard to Bupplying coal to colliers of German or other nationality attending upon the the Russian squadron from the Baltic and directs the detention of any collier that may be habitually taking cargoes of coal from the Marshall Islands.

States in reply to No. 87 that all vessels connected with the Russian squadron should be treated as directed in Nos. 24 and 31.

Suggests precautionary and restrictive

measures to be taken by local autho rities in the event of leave parties from Russian war-slips being allowed to land.

Informs him that the Russian Government allege that Japanese sailors have been despatched along the path of the Russian fleet; observes that no doubt bis Government will take possible pre- cautions for the prevention of any violation of neutrality.

Notifies allegations of the Russian Govern- ment as to despatch of Japanese sailors to the route of the Russian fleet.

Informs him, in reply to No. 35, that the Russians anticipate a plot to torpedo a Russian vessel rather than an attack by a man-of-war, and allege that Japanese sailors have been despatched to the route of the Baltic fleet on the steam- ships "Coromandel” and “Ischia."

Transmits copy of No. 31; states that as such contingencies as those referred to in No. 40 have been already provided for in a Circular and Memorandum of August 1899 no further telegraphic in- structions have been sent out.

Transmits copy of a letter from Admiralty, suggesting precautions in the matter of leave parties landing in British Colonial ports from Russian men-of-war and of the reply concurring in the Colonial Office view that no instructions beyoud those of 1899 are necessary.

Reports application at Durban of the

French steamer

"Espérance," loaded with frozen meat for Saigon, for 1,000 tons of coal; 800 tons only have been given her, as it is suspected that her cargo is for the Russian fleet.

Tele- (Rec. Dec. 28.) Reports, with reference to No. 44, that gram.

the "Coromandel " left Colombo on 18th December for Bombay carrying no Japanese, and that the "Ischia did not call at Colombo in November.

49

Foreign Office

Confi. dential.

Dec. 22

22

50

Governor Sir H. E. McCallum (Natal).

Tele- Dec. 24 gram 1. (Rec. Dec. 24.)

23

51

Governor Sir II. A.

Blake (Ceylon).

Transmits copy of a letter from the Admi

malty covering & Memorandum by the Director of Naval Intelligence relative to the use of the Marshall Islands by the Russian fleet.

Reports application of the "Espérance" for large supply of water, vegetables, and lemons; he has authorized all the water and Eufficient vegetables and lemous for the crew to the next French port.

Tele- (Rec. Dec. 24.) Reports, with reference to No. 44, arrival gram.

of five Japanese sailors from Java and the departure of two of them for Port Said.

23

24

24

24

25

26

26

27

27

28

li

Share This Page