CO885-9 — Page 131

1651.

33

No. 61.

(Confidential.)

SIR,

COLONIAL OFFICE TO FOREIGN OFFICE.

[Answered by No. 61]

Downing Street, January 16, 1905. I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton to transmit to you, to be laid before the Marquess of Lansdowne, the accompanying copy of a telegram* from the Governor of Natal, relating to the supply of coal to a vessel carrying a cargo of coal, suspected to be intended for the Russian or Japanese fleets.

Mr. Lyttelton is of opinion that there does not appear to be sufficient ground for preventing steamers (which are presumably British) from taking sufficient coal to carry them to a neutral port like Batavia, on suspicion that they are carrying contraband of war, unless they are shown to have been in attendance on one or other of the hostile fleets; and I am to enquire whether Lord Lansdowne concurs that a telegram in this sense should be sent to Sir H. McCallum,

I am, &c.

C. P. LUCAS.

(Confidential.)

SIR,

FOREIGN OFFICE TO COLONIAL OFFICE.

(Received January 17, 1905.)

[See No. 77.]

Foreign Office, January 17, 1905.

I AM directed by the Marquess of Lansdowne to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 16th instant, enclosing copy of a telegram from the Governor of Natal respecting the supply of coal to vessels carrying cargoes of coal suspected to be intended for the Russian or Japanese fleets.

I am to acquaint you, in reply, for Mr. Secretary Lyttelton's information, that his Lordship concurs in Sir H. McCallum being informed in the sense suggested in your letter.

In Lord Lansdowne's opinion bunker coal should not be refused in such cases unless there be good ground for believing, from the proceedings of the vessel on the previous voyage, that she is in attendance on, and practically under the orders of, the belligerent fleet.

1617.

No. 60.

1851.

I am, &c.

F. A. CAMPBELL.

(Confidential.)

SIB,

ADMIRALTY TO COLONIAL OFFICE,

(Received January 17, 1905.)

Admiralty, January 17, 1905. I AM commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit, for the information of the Secretary of State for Colonial Affairs, copy of a telegram dated 16th instant, No. 25, from the Commander-in-chief, Cape of Good Hope.

I am, &c.

EVAN MACGREGOR.

No. 62.

NATAL.

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

(Sent 9:15 P.M., January 17, 1905.)

(Paraphrase.)

TELEGRAM.

In reply to your telegraphic enquiry of yesterday,t bunker coal should not, in the opinion of His Majesty's Government, be refused to a steamer except there are good reasons for believing it to be in attendance on a belligerent fleet and practically taking orders from it, the vessel's proceedings on its earlier voyage being taken as the foundation for any such belief.

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 885

9PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

Enclosure in No. 60,

The COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, Cape of Good Hope, to ADMIRALTY. (Sent, Simonstown, received, Admiralty, January 16, 1905.)

(No. 25.)

TELEGRAM.

FOLLOWING received from Governor of Natal:-

"16th January, two steamers, the Rasdara' and the William Storrs,' laden with Cardiff coal for Batavia has (sic) called here and port authorities, without consulting me, have given them sufficient coal to take them to that port. strongly suspect their

cargoes to be contraband of war intended for belligerent purposes of one or other of the two opposing fleets. Another steam collier, the 'St. Ninian,' has arrived this morning, and makes similar request. Have you received any advices about these steamers ?"

L

I have replied that I have not received any advices about these steamers mentioned.

• No. 58.

1651.

(Confidential.)

SIR,

No. 62 A.

COLONIAL OFFICE TO ADMIRALTY.

January 16:

Downing Street, January 21, 1905. I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton to acknowledge the receipt of your letter Governor, of the 17th instant, communicating a telegram from the Commander-in-chief, Cape of Natal, tel (Hood Hope, respecting the supply at Durban of coal to vessels carrying cargoes of coal graphic, suspected to be intended for the Russian or Japanese fleets, and to transmit, for the to Foreign information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, a copy of correspondences Office, on the subject with the Foreign Office and the Governor of Natal, as noted in the January 16; margin.

I am, &c.

Foreign

Officu, January 17:

to Governor

Natal, January 17,

FRED. GRAHAM.

1905.

• No. 69.

† No. 58.

‡ No. 60.

§ Nos. 58, 59, 61, and 62.

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