38345
18
No. 40.
COMMISSIONER STEWART LOCKHART (WEIHAIWEI) to MR. LYTTELTON.
(Received September 26, 1904.)
[Copy to Admiralty and Foreign Office, September 29, 1904. L.F.]
(No. 61.)
[Answered by Nd. 42.]
SIR,
Government House, Port Edward, Weihaiwei, August 15, 1904. I HAVE the honour to forward herewith, for your information, a copy of a letter which I have received from Admiral Sir Gerard Noel regarding the Com- mander and crew of the Russian torpedo-boat destroyer "Burni," which was wrecked, whilst being pursued by the Japanese, in a fog on the coast of Shantung.
2. The Commander and crew of the "Burni" left here yesterday in H.M.S. Humber" for Hong Kong, where they will be interned pending further orders. I have, &c.,
SIR,
J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,
Enclosure in No. 40.
Commissioner.
Commander-in-Chief, China Station, August 14, 1904.
I HAVE the honour to inform you that on the 12th instant, at 5 p.m., Lieutonant-Commander Tirkov, of the Russian torpedo-boat destroyer "Burni," came on board the flagship and reported that his destroyer had been wrecked in a fog three miles west of Shantung.
He stated that he wished to place himself and his crew, viz., 4 officers and 61 men, under the protection of the British Government. He was informed by me personally that if he did so he would be interned until the end of the war.
I have reported to the above effect to the Admiralty, and with the approval of their Lordships, I am sending the crew of the "Burni" to Hong Kong in the Humber." They will be interned at Hong Kong until the Admiralty give me orders as to their final disposal.
The destroyer has been inspected and has been found to be a total wreck, about ten miles beyond the eastern extremity of British territory.
I have, &c.,
G. U. NOEL,
Vice-Admiral.
19
As the Secretary of State for the Colonies is aware, the Russian Government have demanded that these men should be repatriated and not interned.
The arguments with which they have supported this request are based on the contention that the crew of the "Burni" took refuge at Weihaiwei owing to ship- wreck and not as the results of any warlike operation.
Lord Lansdowne, therefore, considers it important that particulars should be obtained from Mr. Lockhart, and that he should be asked on what evidence he based the statement contained in his despatch that the "Burni" was wrecked whilst being pursued by the Japanese in a fog on the coast of Shantung.
4.
I am to request that a telegram may be addressed to Mr. Lockhart accordingly, and that he may be asked to send an early reply, as the question is now before the Law Officers.
I am, &c.,
34209
No. 42.
F. A. CAMPBELL.
MR. LYTTELTON to COMMISSIONER STEWART LOCKHART (WEIHAIWEI). (Sent 5 p.m., October 3, 1904.)
Your despatch, No. 61.*
TELEGRAM.
[Answered by No. 43.]
2
Report fully by telegraph on what evidence statement
is based that vessel wrecked during fog while pursued by Japanese.
34357
No. 43.
COMMISSIONER STEWART LOCKHART (WEIHAIWEI) to MR. LYTTELTON. (Received 7.55 a.m., October 4, 1904.)
(Paraphrase.)
TELEGRAM.
[Copy to Foreign Office, October 4, 1904. L.F.]
Referring to your telegram of 3rd October, † statement was based on common rumour, not on evidence given.
His Honour
J. H. Stewart Lockhart, Esq., C.M.G.,
His Britannic Majesty's Commissioner.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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34209
SIR,
(Confidential.)
No. 41.
FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.
(Received October 3, 1904.)
[Answered by L.F. transmitting copy of No. 43.]
Foreign Office, October 1, 1904.
I AM directed by the Marquess of Lansdowne to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, No. 33345, of the 29th ultimo,* enclosing a copy of a despatch from the Commissioner at Weihaiwei on the subject of the Commander and crew of the Russian torpedo-boat destroyer “Burni.”
L.F. on No. 40.
34455
SIR.
No. 44.
FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received October 5, 1904.) [Answered by No. 47.]
Foreign Office, October 1904.
WITH reference to your letter, 30588/1904, of the 2nd ultimo, respecting the disposal of the officers and crew of the Russian warship "Burni," I am directed by the Marquess of Lansdowne to state, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that the Russian Ambassador called at this office on the 3rd instant and said that Lieutenant Tyrtoff, the Commander, was seriously ill and, it was thought, was likely to become insane. His Excellency urged that, apart from the general question of the repatriation of the crew, Lieutenant Tyrtoff should be sent back to Russia.
• No. 40.
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† No. 42.
‡ No. 30.
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