CO882-(6-8) — Page 408

57

the camp. At present water is being supplied at the camp itself at all times of the day.

7. Paragraph 8. While agreeing that residence in a tropical climate may not, as a rule, be beneficial to the health of Europeans, His Excellency points out that many thousands of various nationalities live for some years in Hong Kong without deleterious effect and that there are no grounds for believing that the Russian sailors, though they may suffer from indisposition, are as a body incapable of standing the climate.

8. Paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 15. It is the case that Lieutenant Pini and one sailor, Michael Dityatieff, were invalided on Dr. Rennie's certificate, but the recom- mendation of that gentleman that over a third of the sailors should be sent to Europe on account of their health showed either that a serious epidemic had broken out among these sailors or that the grounds for the recommendation were insufficient. In either case a further investigation appeared necessary to His Excellency. This in- vestigation was carried out by the Principal Medical Officer on the station, assisted by two other doctors, with the result that one sailor, reported to be seriously ill, was invalided. The statement by Lieutenant Skrydloff that this result was effected by his personal relations with Captain Gibbs, and the further statement contained in paragraph 15 of his letter appear to His Excellency as most improper ones to come from an officer.

9. Paragraphs 12 and 16. His Excellency does not propose to enquire into the professional competency of the military doctors which has been impugned by Lieu- tenant Skrydloff, but is informed that the information asked for by that officer, as stated in the 16th paragraph of his letter was furnished some time ago.

10. Paragraphs 13 and 14. I enclose a statement by Lieutenant-Colonel Josling with regard to the alleged inconsiderate treatment of Russian sailors in the Military Hospital. Lieutenant Skrydloff's reasons for also depriving his men of the advantages of treatment in the Civil Hospital appear to His Excellency inadequate.

11. Before causing a reply to Lieutenant Skrydloff's letter to be communicated to that officer His Excellency will be glad to learn if you have any remarks to make with regard to it.

I have, &c.,

34041

(Confidential.)

No. 102.

COLONIAL OFFICE to FOREIGN OFFICE.

[Answered by No. 103.]

Downing Street, October 31, 1905.

SIR,

I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton to refer to your confidential letter of the 20th of September* and to enquire whether the Governor of Hong Kong may now be authorized to release the Russian refugees interned in that Colony on arrange- ments being made for their return to Russia.

39810

No. 103.

I am, &c.,

H. BERTRAM COX.

FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received November 8, 1905.)

[Answered November 13, 1905, L.F. transmitting copy of No. 104.] (Confidential.)

Foreign Office, November 7, 1905.

SIR,

I LAID before the Marquess of Lansdowne your letter, 34041/1905, of the 31st ultimo, in which you enquire whether the Governor of Hong Kong may now be authorised to release the Russian refugees interned in that Colony on arrange- ments being made for their return to Russia.

I am directed to state in reply that Lord Lansdowne has no objection to offer to such a course.

I

am,

&c.,

F. A. CAMPBELL.

The Imperial Russian Consul.

T. SERCOMBE SMITH,

Colonial Secretary.

39810

No. 104.

SIR,

Enclosure 3 in .No. 101.

August 31, 1905.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 29th instant, with enclosures, and I must express my sincere regret that Lieutenant A. Skrydloff has written his letter of 11th August, 1905.

I cannot agree with the complaints contained in that letter. The Russian sailors are treated here with kindness and humanity and they enjoy liberties, which are more than they could claim strictly to the letter of the Hague Conference.

Especially I feel it to be my duty to declare that the way in which Russian sailors have been treated in the Government Civil Hospital is beyond my praise.

I shall always remember with admiration what Drs. Atkinson and Bell have done for the severely wounded sailors of the "Variag."

It may be that some of the men at Kowloon suffer from anaemia and malaria, but I think that it is very much exaggerated by Lieutenant Skrydloff's letter and that they must show their character as good sailors by suffering with patience the effect of this tropical climate, which after all is not so bad.

I can only take the liberty to suggest that His Excellency, in reply to Lieutenant Skrydloff's letter, will inform him that there is no reason to make any change in the conditions of the Russian sailors at Kowloon.

The Honourable

The Colonial Secretary.

I have, &c.,

C. BOLOGOWSKOY,

Imperial Russian Consul.

MR. LYTTELTON to GOVERNOR SIR M. NATHAN. (Sent 4.20 p.m., November 9, 1905.) TELEGRAM.

[Copy to Foreign Office, November 13, 1905. L.F.] [Answered by No. 105.]

Your telegram of September 8. Refugees may be released now on arrange- ments being made for their return to Russia.

45929

No. 105.

GOVERNOR SIR M. NATHAN to MR. LYTTELTON. (Received December 30, 1905.)

(Confidential.)

[Answered by No. 110.]

SIR,

Government House, Hong Kong, December 1, 1905. REFERRING to your telegram of the 9th November§ informing me that the officers and men of the former Russian torpedo-boat destroyer "Burni" might be released on arrangements being made for their return to Russia, I have the honour to inform you that two Russian officers (Sub-Lieutenant Skrydloff, and Engineer- Lieutenant Sladsky) and 53 men embarked at 8 a.m. yesterday morning on the

• No. 98.

20111

† No. 102.

No. 96.

§ No. 101.

H

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TTIC.O. 882

لأساسيا

8 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

| COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

58