PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 885
9PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
38
matter. At the time of the Spanish-American war, at the request of Spain, it forbade the West India and Panama Telegraphic Company to transmit by means of its two cables between Santiago and Jamaica any American military telegrams whatsoever, cypher and code telegrams included.
It is indispensable for us to take advantage of this precedent, and that, too, with as little delay as possible.
2448.
No. 70.
NATAL.
MR. LYTTELTON TO GOVERNOR SIR H. E. McCALLUM.
(Paraphrase.)
(Sent 2:45 P.M., January 26, 1905.)
TELEGRAM.
[Answered by No. 102.]
THE Foreign Office considers that the "Tapton " and " Aberlour," mentioned in your telegrams of 22nd and 25th instant, may have coal sufficient, when added to the supply already on board, to carry them to Falmouth, if you are satisfied that they have not sufficient, and if there are no reasonable grounds for suspecting that they are proceeding elsewhere than Falmouth.
2949.
(Secret.)
No. 71.
MAURITIUS.
GOVERNOR SIR C. BOYLE TO MR. LYTTELTON.
(Received January 28, 1905.).
[Answered by No. 106.]
Le Réduit, Government House, December 15, 1904.
SIR,
As I am somewhat doubtful as to whether I clearly understand your several instructions with regard to the rules to be observed should any of the Russian fleet come into the ports or territorial waters of this Colony, I had the honour yesterday of addressing a telegraphic despatch to you giving the information, which had reached me, through Admiral Durnford, from the Naval Commander-in-chief of the East India Station as to the movement of the division which was to leave Djibuti presumably for Madagascar on the 13th current, and asking, as five Volunteer cruisers are with that division, whether the rules to be observed with regard to these vessels are exactly the same as those applicable to the other ships.
I have, &c.
39
2. On the 27th November I received a telegram from you in which you referred to the matter of colliers, of German and other nationalities, which were in attendance on the Russian Baltic Squadron being supplied with coal. You instructed me to give directions that such colliers were not to-be allowed to take in coal if I were satisfied that they were actually attached to the Russian Fleet and were taking orders from persons in the Naval service of the Russian Government.
You added that coaling should be prevented, if necessary, by force, in the event of any attempt to disobey this order.
You stated that possibly persons who thought themselves aggrieved by the enforce- ment of the above prohibition might take proceedings by way of action, and advised that the reply to such action, as regards German or foreign owners or captains, would be that the prohibition of its enforcement constituted an act of State by the authority of the Governor, and that the provisions of "The Foreign Enlistment Act, 1870," section 8, sub-sections (3) and (4), would govern the case as against any British subject. This telegram you desired to be repeated to Hong Kong, Labuan, and Weihaiwei.
3. On the 27th November I telegraphed suggesting that the Admiral might be instructed to send a man-of-war to Labuan to assist the local authorities there, as there was no officer or force capable to enforce orders, and as it was more probable that any attempt to coal would be made there rather than at Singapore.
4. On the 8th December you telegraphed‡ referring to your telegram of the 26th November, and stated that the vessels of the Baltic Fleet were not prohibited from entering British ports so long as they left again within twenty-four hours; but, although relief parties under the provisions of your confidential despatch of the 14th August, 1899, might be allowed to land, the ships were not entitled to receive either supplies or fresh water.
5. On the 9th December|| I telegraphed that as there was no Custom-house here, and no power to examine ship's papers except by the order of the Governor in cases of reasonable suspicion, it would facilitate the work of the Naval and Colonial authorities if the names of any colliers attending the Russian Fleet could be furnished.
6. On the 20th December¶ 'I telegraphed that His Majesty's Consul at Batavia had reported by telegram that he had reliable information that the Netherlands Indian Government intended to permit the ships of the Russian Squadron to take coal from the shore or from their own colliers in Netherlands Indian waters, as provided for by Foreign Office Circular No. 23, 1898, Rule 3.
I have, &c.
3123.
JOHN ANDERSON.
2938.
(Secret.)
SIR,
No. 72.
CAVENDISH BOYLE.
STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.
GOVERNOR SIR J. ANDERSON TO MR. LYTTELTON.
(Received January 28, 1905.)
[Answered by No. 100.]
Government House, Penang, January 3, 1905.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge and advise the receipt and despatch of certain cypher telegrams I have received from and despatched to you, on the subject of colliers attending the Russian Baltic Fleet.
Nos. 64 and 67.
↑ No. 37.
(Secret.)
SIR,
No. 73.
CEYLON.
GOVERNOR SIR H. A. BLAKE TO MR. LYTTELTON.
(Received January 30, 1905.)
[Answered by No. 101.]
Queen's House, Colombo, January 9, 1905.
*
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Confidential despatch of 3rd December,§ confirming your Secret telegram of 26th November, containing instructions as to the supply of coal to colliers in attendance upon vessels of the Russian Baltic Fleet.
2. The Egyptian authorities have from time to time kept me informed of the names of any colliers passing through the Suez Canal that were under suspicion of supplying the Russian Fleet, and I shall in every case make special inquiries before permitting any of these vessels that may call at ports in Ceylon to take in coal.
3. I enclose for your information a Memorandum by the Principal Collector of Customs dealing with the subject, and detailing the action that has, up to the present, been
• No. 24 A.
† Not received; see No. 90, No. 33.
+ No. 31.
§ Not printed.
No. 41.