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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

།།

19

Reference :-

C.O. 882

8 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO

Russian cruiser "Almaz," which arrived from Vladivostock on the 24th November and left yesterday evening for Russia viâ Saigon and other ports.

Vide Governor's despatch, No. 348, 23rd September, 1904.

Ditto, No. 371, 19th October, 1904. Ditto, No. 122, 5th May, 1905. Ditto, No. 159, 16th June, 1905. Ditto, No. 194, 27th July, 1905. Ditto, No. 212, 21st August, 1905.

2. You will remember that the crew of the " Burni " that arrived at Hong Kong on the 22nd August, 1904, consisted of four officers and sixty-one men. Of the officers, Lieutenant Tyrkov, the senior, was released on parole on being invalided to Europe on the 18th October, 1904, and Sub-Lieutenant Pini, the next senior, was similarly released on the 10th May, 1905. Of the men, five (Terentief, Taniguine, Kryloff, Ileuk, and Kremeniski) left for Russia on the 16th June, one (Michael Ditytieff) on the 20th July and two (Ushkoff and Kazachoff) on the 19th August for reasons given in my marginally noted despatches.* 3. Referring to your telegram of the 24th October, 1904, † and confidential despatch of the 27th of that month, in which you approved the proposal of the Admiralty that the arms surrendered by the crew of the "Burni" to the Commander- in-Chief of the China Station should be stored at Hong Kong by the Colonial Govern- ment until the conclusion of the war between Russia and Japan, I have the honour to inform you that these arms, which had been in charge of the Captain Superin- tendent of Police, were, after being inspected by Lieutenant Skrydloff, and after a receipt had been given for them, placed on board the "Almaz."

4. As approved in your confidential despatch of the 23rd December, 1904,§ the expenditure that has been incurred on the internment of the officers and men of the "Burni" has been accounted for by the Treasury Chest Officer direct to London for subsequent recovery from the Russian Government. The proceeds of the sale of various building materials, stores, &c., which has taken place on the camp ceasing to be required is being placed to the credit of the Russian Government in the account.

5. The General Officer Commanding has informed me that the conduct of the Russian sailors throughout the period of their internment has been good. At one Vide Governor's Despatches time the Russian Consul feared trouble between the men Confidential, 16th November, and their officers, but after making enquiries I came to 1904.

the conclusion that it was not necessary to take any Confidential, 16th March,

special measures in the matter. The few cases in which 1905,

No. 215, 2nd September, the officers made complaints of their treatment were duly

reported to you as they occurred.

1905.

6. Major-General Hatton has 'brought to my notice the very useful service rendered by Major J. J. O'B. Sexton, 110th Mahratta Light Infantry, as Russian interpreter, and has asked me to add, in case you should think fit to bring this service to the notice of the Secretary of State for India, that Major Sexton has employed his spare time since his regiment returned to India in studying Chinese.

7. Referring to your confidential despatch of the 8th March, 1905, in which you stated that for the time being you would tender no advice to His Majesty in respect of Ordinance No. 7 of 1904, entitled "An Ordinance to regulate the Intern- ment of Refugees belonging to the Russian and Japanese Forces," I have the honour to point out that the circumstances set forth in the preamble of the Ordinance having ceased to exist, the Ordinance, which had its effect, has expired.

8. The incident of the "Burni" prisoners may, I think, now be considered closed.

I have, &o.,

M. NATHAN,

Governor, &c.

45929

SIR,

No. 106.

COLONIAL OFFICE to FOREIGN OFFICE.

[Copy to Governor, January 23, 1906, Confidential. LF.}

[Answered by No. 109.]

Downing Street, January 9, 1906. WITH reference to the letter from this Department of the 13th of November last* and previous correspondence, I am directed by the Earl of Elgin to transmit to you, to be laid before Secretary Sir E. Grey, a copy of a despatcht from the Governor of Hong Kong reporting the departure from that Colony of the members of the crew of the Russian destroyer" Burni," who were interned there.

2. Subject to the concurrence of Sir E. Grey, Lord Elgin proposes to express to the Governor His Majesty's Government's appreciation of the manner in which the internment has been carried out.

45929

No. 107.

I am, &c.,

H. BERTRAM COX.

COLONIAL OFFICE to ADMIRALTY, TREASURY, and WAR OFFICE.

Downing Street, January 9, 1906.

SIR,

WITH reference to previous correspondence on the subject of the internment at Hong Kong of the crew of the Russian destroyer "Burni," which was wrecked near Weihaiwei, I am directed by the Earl of Elgin to transmit to you, for the

Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, information of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury,

the enclosed copy of a

Army Council,

despatch from the Governor of Hong Kong reporting their departure from that Colony.

45929

SIR,

No. 108.

I am, &c.,

H. BERTRAM COX.

COLONIAL OFFICE to INDIA OFFICE.

[Copy to Governor, January 23, 1906, Confidential. L.F.]

Downing Street, January 9, 1906.

I AM directed by the Earl of Elgin to transmit to you, with reference to the correspondence noted in the margin, a copy of a despatcht from the Governor of Hong Kong reporting the departure from that Colony of the crew of the Russian destroyer "Burni," who had been interned there.

Colonial Office to India Office, Dec. 30, 1904.

India Office to Colonial Office, Jan. 3, 1905.

Colonial Office to India Office, Jan. 26, 1905.

2. I am to request you to draw the atten- tion of Mr. Secretary Morley to Sir M. Nathan's mention, in paragraph 6, of the very useful service as Russian interpreter rendered by Major J. J. O'B. Sexton, of the 110th Mahratta Light Infantry.

I am, &c.,

H. BERTRAM COX.

* Nos. 30 and 60, 91, 92, 95 and 99.

No. 68.

† No. 51.

| Nos. 66, 86 and 101.

↑ No. 56.

No. 81.

• L.F. transmitting copy of No. 104.

† No. 105.

43281, 154 and 1861: not printed.

1682

60

SIR,

No. 109.

FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.

(Received January 16, 1906.)

[Copy to Governor, January 23, 1906, Confidential. L.F.]

Foreign Office, January 15, 1906. I AM directed by Secretary Sir E. Grey to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, marked 45929/05, of the 9th instant, respecting the departure from Hong Kong of the crew of the Russian destroyer "Burni," who were interned there.

*

am to state that Sir E. Grey concurs in the proposal of the Secretary of State for the Colonies to express the appreciation of His Majesty's Government of the inanner in which the internment has been carried out.

I am to suggest, for the consideration of the Earl of Elgin, that the services of Major J. J. O'B. Sexton, 110th Mahratta Light Infantry, in the capacity of Russian interpreter might be brought to the notice of the Secretary of State for India.

I am,

&c.,

F. A. CAMPBELL.

1682

SIR,

(No. 11.)

No. 110.

THE EARL OF ELGIN to GOVERNOR SIR M. NATHAN.

Downing Street, January 19, 1906.

I LEARN that arrangements have now been made for the return to Russia of the members of the crew of the Russian destroyer "Burni," who have been interned in the Colony since August, 1904, and I desire to convey to you, on behalf of His Majesty's Government, their appreciation of the manner in which this internment has been carried out.

• No. 106.

I have, &c.,

ELGIN.