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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

885

9 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO

12893.

82

No. 143.

FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE,

(Received April 19, 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 copy of the undermentioned paper relative to the steam-ship "Hindoo" at Saigon.

Foreign Office,

April 18, 1905.

Reference to previous letter.

FOREIGN OFFICE LETTER, April 15, 1905.*

Description of Enclosure.

83

crew, British subjects, have come on shore claiming protection and stated that she is carrying contraband for the Russian fleet I have stopped her coaling. 100 tons only have been loaded. The men state that they signed only for Port Said, were not allowed to discharge there, and have been brought here against their will, and that stores on board were intended for the Russian feet, but connection was missed; that is now following the fleet to Saigon. First declared Batavia to be her next port, secondly Saigon, and lastly Tsintau. There is no doubt that her cargo is largely ships' stores.

Please send instructions as to further action.

13095.

Name and Date.

Telegram.

Subject.

Vice-Consul O'Connell, German steam-ship " Hindoo," from Singapore, Saigon, April 18, 1905.

with coal for Russian Baltic Fleet.

Enclosure in No. 143.

Vice-Consul O'CONNELL to the MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNE,

(Saigon 6.50 P.M.

(Paraphrase.)

Received 5:45 P.M., April 18, 1905.)

TELEGRAM.

ARRIVAL reported from Singapore of German steam-ship "Hindoo" with coal for Russian fleet, which is rumoured to be off the Annam Coast. Several French and German vessels taking coal and provisions intended for the Baltic fleet are awaiting its arrival. There may be British steamers chartered for similar business.

12890.

(Paraphrase),

No. 144.

MAURITIUS.

GOVERNOR SIR C. BOYLE TO MR. LYTTELTON. (Received 5:50 A.M., April 19, 1905.)

TELEGRAM.

[Copy to Board of Trade, April 20, 1905, L. F., and to Foreign Office, April 19, 1905, 12890: not printed.]

(Matter most urgent.)

[Answered by No. 149.]

THE German steam-ship "Juliette," late "Dunolly Castle," from Antwerp and Madagascar ports, Diego Suarez last, arrived 18th and asked for 900 tons of coal. She had been some weeks in Madagascar. Cargo general, including quantity of frozen meat and naval stores. She has 450 tons of coal on board, her bunker capacity being about 1,000. I gave permission for 600 tons to fill the bunkers, but as some of her

(Paraphrase.)

No. 145.

MAURITIUS.

GOVERNOR SIR C. BOYLE TO MR. LYTTELTON. (Received 11.5 A.M., April 20, 1905.)

TELEGRAM.

[Copy to Board of Trade, April 20, 1905, L. F.]

[Answered by No. 149.]

REFERRING to my telegram of yesterday. All of the crew of the vessel, being British subjects and three American citizens, have left the vessel, refusing to proceed and claiming their discharge, although the master offers them double wages. The German Consul has refused to discharge them, and has asked me to afford police assistance to put them on board as deserters. Having taken opinion of Law Officers, I have informed him that procedure under Merchant Shipping Law should be followed. Meanwhile the men, being without any means, have been given food and lodging at the Sailors' Home. They are twenty-seven in all. Anxious for your early instructions by telegraph.

13407.

No. 146.

FOREIGN OFFICE TO COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received April 22, 1905.)

[Answered by No. 152.]

THE Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs presents his compliments to the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, and is directed by the Marquess of Lansdowne to inform him that the Secretary to the German Legation called at this Office to-day to inquire, on behalf of his Government, what were the reasons for the detention of the steam-ships "Florida " and "Tolosan by the Colonial authorities

at Hong Kong.

"

Lord Lansdowne would be glad to be furnished with any information in the possession of the Colonial Office on the subject at Mr. Secretary Lyttelton's early convenience.

Foreign Office,

April 20, 1905.

• No. 144.

• No. 189.

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