2949.
47
No. 86.
(Confidential.)
SIR,
[Answered by No. 91.]
Downing Street, February 6, 1905. I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton to transmit to you, for the consideration of the Marquess of Lansdowne, a paraphrase of a telegram* from the Governor of the Straits Settlements with regard to the treatment of colliers in attendance upon the Russian fleet, which was addressed to this Office on the 9th December last, but appears to have been mislaid immedjately after its receipt in this Department, its delivery having only been traced after a reference to the Eastern Telegraph Company on the arrival from Singapore of a recorder of the telegram.
In
It would appear from the despatch which has been received from the Governor of Ceylon, which has been communicated to you in a letter from this Department of the 4th instant, that the Egyptian authorit es have regularly advised the Governor of that Colony of any suspicious colliers that may have passed through the Suez Canal. view of the difficulty referred to by Sir J. Anderson, Mr. Lyttelton proposes to instruct Sir H. Blake to forward to Sir J. Anderson, when necessary by telegraph, the informa- tion received by him from the Egyptian authorities, and also to instruct Sir J. Anderson to forward the same, when necessary, to the Governors of Hong Kong and Labuan, and he would suggest that the Egyptian authorities should be asked to communicate with the Governor of Natal when they consider it advisable. It is also understood that not infrequently colliers leave ports in this country with cargoes ostensibly for neutral ports, but believed to be actually intended for the Russian fleet; and I am to enquire whether, in his Lordship's opinion, any further steps could be taken to advise the Governors of Colonies on the lines of route to the Far East of the names of such vessels.
I am, &c.
H. BERTRAM .COX.
2449.
No. 85.
COLONIAL OFFICE TO BRITISH NORTH BORNEO COMPANY.
COLONIAL OFFICE TO FOREIGN OFFICE.
[Answered by No. 96.]
SIR,
Downing Street, February 7, 1905. Wrra reference to the letter from this Department of the 16th of December last* enclosing a copy of telegraphic correspondence with the Governor of Mauritius relative to the treatment of Volunteer cruisers accompanying the Russian fleet, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton to transmit to you a copy of a despatcht in which Sir C. Boyle confirms his telegraphic enquiry of 14th Decembert; and I am to request an expression of the Marquess of Lansdowne's concurrence in the terms of the accompanying draft despatch§ which it is proposed to transmit to him in reply.
I am, &c.
4061.
No. 87.
NATAL.
H. BERTRAM COX.
GOVERNOR SIR H. E. MCCALLUM TO MR. LYTTELTON.
(Received 2'15 P.M., February 8, 1905.)
(February 8. No. 1.)
TELEGRAM.
[Answered by No. 121.]
GERMAN ship "Dacia," which has coaled Russian man-of-war, has called and asked for sufficient water to fill all water tanks. She is ostensibly bound to River Plate. I have ordered her to be given 2,000 gallons of water only, which will take her as far as Cape Town.
(Confidential.)
[Answered by No. 88.]
">
SIR,
Downing Street, February 6, 1905. I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton to request you to inform the Court of Directors of the British North Borneo Company that His Majesty's Ambassador at St. Petersburg has called the attention of His Majesty's Government to an article‡ published in the Russian journal "Novoe Vremya on the 18th of last month, repre- senting that the island of Labuan was serving as a base of operations for Japanese war-ships, and that telegraphic communication with the island had been interrupted for twelve days, apparently in order to prevent the publication of news of the movements of the Japanese Fleet.
I am to state that Mr. Lyttelton would be glad to learn whether your Directors can in any way account for these reports, and whether they can afford him any information on the subject.
I am further to state that in view of questions being possibly raised in connection with these allegations, Mr. Lyttelton considers that it would be as well that the Governor should be asked to make a full report on the subject.
I am, &c.
• No. 35,
† No. 81.
H. BERTRAM COX.
Enclosure in No. 69.
4110.
SIR,
No. 88.
BRITISH NORTH BORNEO COMPANY To 'COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received February 9, 1905.)
[Copy to Foreign Office, February 17, 1905, L. F.]
15, Leadenhall Street, E.C.,
February 8, 1905.
I HAVE laid before the Court of Directors your letter No. 2449/1905 of the 6th instant, marked "Confidential," with reference to an article published in the Russian journal "Novoe Vremya" on the 18th January, representing that the island of Labuan was serving as a base for Japanese war-ships, and that telegraphic communication with the island had been interrupted for twelve days, apparently in order to prevent the publication of news of the movements of the Japanese Fleet.
I am directed to say, in reply, for the information of the Secretary of State, that immediately on the receipt of your letter a communication, a copy of which is attached, was addressed to the General Manager of the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company relative to the alleged interruption, and asking whether there was any foundation, for the report.
1049/8. not printed; transmitting copies of Nos. 87 and 89.
No 87.
See No. 106.
+ No. 71.
|| No. 85.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 885
9 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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