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I have applied respectively to the local Representatives of the Russian and Japanese Governments, and have learned that neither of them have the remotest objection to the "Straits Times" securing telegraphic information concerning the movement of the war-ships of their respective Powers in Netherlands Indian waters. I have the added personal assurance from the Representative of one of the Powers mentioned, that the possibility of our securing such information by telegraph would be appreciated by him. I desire to point out that no civilized western Government, save and except that of the Netherlands Indies, places any embargo on the despatch of telegraphic messages concerning the movements of Russian or Japanese war-ships. Even the French Colonies and the German Dependencies, e.g., Saigon and Tsingtao, offer no impediments to the forwarding of such messages.

In view of the absence of any objection on the part of the Powers concerned, and in view of the losses we are liable to sustain through the enforcemont of the Regulation set forth in the attached notice, I most respectfully solicit that if it be continued, you will make such representations to the Government of the Netherlands Indies as may lead to the immediate repeal of that Regulation.

In view of the fact that news of great moment may be expected from the Netherlands Indiea within a few days' time, I further most respectfully request that, if it be possible to do so, you would kindly communicate on the subject with the Netherlands Indian Government by telegraph.

I have, &c.

E. A. MORPHY,

Editor and Manager of the "Straits Times."

MEMORAND JM.

Singapore, December 20, 1904.

THE Netherlands Indian Government notifies that by virtue of Article VIII of the International Telegraph Convention, telegrams of which the contents are not intelligible to the Dutch employés or those concerning the movements of ships or troops of interest to either of the belligerents Russia and Japan, will not, until further notice, be accepted by the offices at Sabang, Kotaradja, and Olehleh.

Telegrams in Commercial Codes will be allowed, on condition that the code used be produced to the Dutch employés, and that the contents, translated into plain language, present no difficulties.

A. E. SPRIGGS,

Acting Superintendent, Eastern Extension Australasia and China

Telegraph Company (Limited).

8545.

71

No. 127 A.

NATAL.

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

(Paraphrase.)

(March 16. No. 3.)

(Received 6:54 P.M., March 16, 1905.)

TELEGRAM.

THE two [?] vessels referred to in the last sentence of my telegram of the 7th instant No. 1 have sold their cargoes to the Government of Natal.

8773.

SIB,

No. 128.

FOREIGN OFFICE TO COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received March 20, 1905.)

[Copy to Governor, Straits Settlements, March 22, 1905, General, L. F.]

Foreign Office, March 18, 1905.

I AM directed by the Marquess of Lansdowne to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 15th instant,t on the subject of a complaint made by the Editor of the "Straits Times," of certain restrictions which have been imposed on press messages by the Government of Netherlands India.

I am to state, in reply, that the latter Government would appear-so long as notice is given in the manner prescribed, which has been done-to be acting within their rights under Article VIII of the International Telegraph Convention, and that his Lordship is of opinion that it is not a case in which His Majesty's Government are called upon to make any representation to the Netherlands Government.

I am, &c.

F. A. CAMPBELL

No. 127.

8825.

No. 129.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 885

9 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO

STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.

GOVERNOR SIR J. ANDERSON TO MR. LYTTELTON.

(Paraphrase.)

(Received 4 P.M., March 15, 1905.)

TELEGRAM.

[Copy to Foreign Office, March 15, 1905, L. F. (see No. 130), and to Admiralty, March 22, 1905, L. F.]

SEVERAL Japanese men-of-war are expected by Japanese Consul at an early date. They do not propose to enter harbour, but the Consul asks for permission to send supplies to them. I have declined request.

STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.

GOVERNOR SIR J. ANDERSON TO MR LYTTELTON, (Received 9:40 A.M., March 19, 1905.)

TELEGRAM.

[Copy to Foreign Office and Admiralty, March 22, 1905, L. F.]

GOVERNOR Labuan reports four Japanese Government men-of-war arrived

yesterday evening; proceeding to sea to-day at noon.

• No. 124.

+ 7874: not printed

8314.

Page 150Page 151

9318.

72

No. 130.

FOREIGN OFFICE TO COLONIAL OFFICE.

(Received March 24, 1905.)

[Copy to Governor, Straits Settlements, March 28, 1905, General, L. F.]

Foreign Office, March 23, 1905.

SIR,

I AM directed by the Marquess of Lansdowne to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 15th instant, enclosing a copy of a telegramt from the Governor of the Straits Suttlements, relating to the grant of supplies to Japanese war-ships at Singapore.

I am to state, in reply, that, in his Lordship's opinion, the answer returned by Sir J. Anderson to the application of the Japanese Consul was right and proper in the circumstances, and was consistent with the treatment which it was decided should be accorded to Russian men-of-war.

73

Enclosure 2 in No. 130 A.

The MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNE to Consul-General GURNEY, Marseilles. (Šent March 23, 1905.) -

(Paraphrase.)

TELEGRAM.

REFERRING to your telegram of to-day's date. Telegraph name of vessel.

9714.

(Secret.)

No. 130 A.

I am, &c.

F. A. CAMPBELL.

FOREIGN OFFICE TO COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received March 25, 1905.)

THE Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs presents his compliments to the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, and, by direction of the Secretary of State, transmits herewith copies of the undermentioned paper relative to the possibility of the Russian fleet coaling at Diego Garcia.

Enclosure 3 in No. 130 A.

Consul-General GURNEY, Marseilles, to the MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNE (Sent 7:40 A.M., received, Foreign Office, 11 A.M., March 24, 1905.) (Paraphrase.)

(Secret.)

TELEGRAM.

WITH reference to your telegram, Treaty, of 23rd instant, I was asked by friendly ship-owner as to possible means of communicating with Diego Garcia, as he was anxious to communicate with the captain of a collier who had been instructed (I presume at some port of call in Madagascar) to proceed there.

He admitted that cargo of coal was intended for the Russian fleet, and that it was insured against war risk. Name of steamer was, however, not mentioned, but I will endeavour to ascertain this.

9633.

No. 131.

Foreign Office, March 24, 1905.

HONG KONG.

Reference to previous letter.

FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE, December 14, 1904.‡

Description of Enclosure.

Name and Date.

(Telegrams.) Consul-General Gurney (Marseilles), March 28; to ditto, March 24; Consul-General Gurney (Marseilles), March 24, 1905

Subject.

French collier, with cargo of coal for Russian

fleet, ordered to Diego Garcia.

Enclosure 1 in No. 150 A.

Consul-General GURNEY, Marseilles, to the Marquess of LanSDOWNE,

(Paraphrase)

(Received, Foreign Office, March 23, 1905.)

TELEGRAM.

FRENCH Collier which is chartered by Marseilles firm and bound for Madagascar with cargo of coal for Russian fleet shipped at Cardiff has been ordered to proceed to Diego Garcia. Vessel insured against war risk.

(Secret.)

SIR,

GOVERNOR SI M. NATHAN TO MR. LYTTELTON.

(Received March 25, 1905.)

[Copy to Foreign Office, April 6, 1905, L. P.]

Government House, Hong Kong, February 18, 1905. REFERRING to your cypher telegram of the 26th December, 1904, instructing me to report by telegraph the movements of the British steamers

<< Sandhurst" and. Woodford," their proceedings on arrival at Hong Kong, and whether they were acting under orders of the Russian fleet, I have the honour to confirm my telegraphic reply of to-day's date,† to the effect that the first-named vessel arrived here on the 11th instant, that she was clearing this afternoon with coal (5,400 tons), for Sasebo, in Japan, that there was nothing suspicious in her proceedings, and that there was no evidence of her acting under the orders of the Russian fleet.

(2.) Previous to the purchase of the vessel by her present owners, Messrs. Watts, Watts and Co., she was run by a Tyne firm as the "Toronto" ; before this she was called the "St. Enoch," and was registered in Liverpool. This accounts for the three names by which the vessel is referred to in your telegram.

(3.) The Master, Captain Robertson, is known to the Harbour Master here as having been previously in this port in command of a vessel also carrying coals to Sasebo, and is believed to be trustworthy. I annex a copy of the orders delivered to Captain Robertson, which was furnished by the local agents of Messrs. Watts, Watts and Co.

(4.) The vessel has been watched by the water police since her arrival in port, and nothing suspicious has been noted with regard to her.

LF.

† No. 127.

42494: not printed.

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