CO885-9 — Page 130

PUBLIC

RECORD

OFFICE

། ། ། ། །

Reference :-

humimmiam C.0 885

9 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO

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2. I informed you that as this vessel had touched at Tangier and Dakar on the way out, and as I suspected that, although her papers were in order, the frozen meat. was required for the Russian fleet, I had only allowed her 300 tons of coal to make her way to a French port at Madagascar.

3. I added that the captain of the steamer agreed to this arrangement.

4. Supplementary to this telegram I was informed unofficially, by the local agent of the Aberdeen Line of steamers, that it was currently reported at home that the ship and cargo had been purchased by the Russian Governmont. I could not, of course, act upon such information, but the nature of the cargo itself and the distance from port of origin to the alleged port of destination seemed to be sufficient in itself to justify my limiting the supply of coal to an amount which would take her to the nearest French port.

1536.

SIR,

No. 57.

NATAL

I have, &c.

HENRY MCCALLUM.

GOVERNOR SIR H. E. MCCALLUM TO MR. LYTTELTON.

(Secret. No. 1.)

(Received January 16, 1905.)

[Answered by No. 117.]

King's House, Durban, Natal, December 24, 1904.

IN continuation of my despatch, Secret No. 1, of the 22nd instant,* I have the honour to forward copy of telegram received from the French Consul, Durban, relative to the coaling of the French steamer "Espérance," together with copy of my reply

thereto.

2. I further enclose copy of telegram which I received yesterday at Pietermaritzburg (where I had gone for a meeting of the Executive Council), containing an application by the Master of the "Espérance" for 300 tons of fresh water, on the plea that it was required for his refrigerator. This application I granted.

3. A subsequent telegram, copy of which is also enclosed, asked whether some twenty tons of vegetables and 8,000 lemons might be supplied to the "Espérance." In reply (copy enclosed), I directed that a sufficient quantity of these commodities should be supplied to last the crew as far as the next port of call in Madagascar.

4. The demand for such an abnormal quantity of lemons goes far to confirm my suspicions that the "Espérance" is really a store-ship for the Russian Fleet.

I have, &c.

HENRY MCCALLUM.

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Enclosure 2 in No. 57.

GOVERNOR, Natal, to FRENCH CONSUL.

(December 22, 1904. No. 2.)

TELEGRAM.

I REGRET that I am unable to allow the French steamer "Espérance" more coal than will enable her to reach the nearest French port en route to the East.

Enclosure 3 in No. 57.

PORT CAPTAIN, Durban, to PRIVATE SECRETARY.

TELEGRAM.

(December 23, 1904.)

MASTER of French steamer " 'Espérance now applies for 300 tons fresh water for refrigerator. He states he has none on board, and consumes about twenty tons per day. Please instruct me. He hopes to be ready for sea at 4 P.M. to-morrow.

Enclosure 4 in No. 57.

PORT CAPTAIN, Durban, to PRIVATE SECRETARY.

(December 23, 1904.)

TELEGRAM.

FRENCH steamer " Espérance" asks to be allowed to take about twenty tons vegetables, ie., 10 tons potatoes, 4 tons cabbage, 2 tons each of beetroot and carrots, and 8,000 lemons. Please instruct me.

Enclosure 5 in No. 57.

PRIVATE SECRETARY to PORT CAPTAIN, Durban.

(December 23, 1904. No. 4.)

TELEGRAM.

In reply to your telegram, "Espérance" may ship sufficient vegetables and lemons to last the crew as far as next port of call in Madagascar.

1616.

Enclosure 1 in No. 57.

FRENCH CONSUL, Durban, to GOVERNOR.

(December 22, 1904.)

TELEGRAM.

LE capitaine du vapeur Français "Espérance" m'apprend que Capitaine du Port refuse, malgré ma demande, laisser lui livrer 1,000 tonnes charbon pour consommation du bord. Je prie votre Excellence de vouloir bien lever dette interdiction, qui ne me paraît pas motivée, le vapeur étant un navire de commerce sous pavillon neutre et se rendant à Saigon. Je serais reconnaissant à votre Excellence de vouloir bien me communiquer sa décision par télégramme.

• No. 56.

No. 58.

NATAL

GOVERNOR SIR H. E. McCALLUM TO MR. LYTTELTON. (Received 5:30 P.M., January 16, 1905.)

(Paraphrase.)

(January 16. No. 1.)

TELEGRAM.

[Answered by No. 62.]

WITHOUT Consulting me, the port authorities here have given coal sufficient to take them to Batavia to the "Rasdara and "William Storrs," two steamers with cargoes of coal from Cardiff, which I am very suspicious is contraband intended for one or other of the hostile fleets for belligerent purposes. A similar request has been made by the "St. Ninian," another steam collier, which arrived this morning. Though the suspicion is apparently not strong enough to justify a refusal to give coal, I have given instructions for supply to be deferred until I have ascertained from you whether approval shall be given.

1616.

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No. 59.