CO885-9 — Page 164

16188.

96

No. 166.

FOREIGN OFFICE TO COLONIAL OFFICE.

(Received May 15, 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 under-mentioned paper relative to the supply of coal to a German steam-ship at Mauritius.

Foreign Office, May 12, 1905.

15877.

SIB,

97

No. 167.

COLONIAL OFFICE TO FOREIGN OFFICE.

*

Downing Street,

May 12, 1905.

WITH reference to your letter of the 10th instant, respecting the representation made by the Russian Chargé d'Affaires as regards the comparative treatment at Hong Kong of the steamer "Cafila" and the steamers "Tolosan" and " Florida," I am directed by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton to transmit, for the information of the Marquess of Lansdowne, a copy of a telegram,† which has been received from the Governor of Hong Kong, reporting the circumstances in which the "Cafila was permitted to leave with coal for Sasebo.

I am, &c.

19

C. P. LUCAS.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 885

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

PUBLIC RECORD ́OFFICE, LONDON

Reference to previous letter.

COLONIAL OFFICE, May 6, 1905.*

Name and Date.

Description of Enclosure.

Subject.

Memorandum communicated to Count Case of steam-ship " Juliette.”

Bernstorff, May 12, 1905.

Enclosure in No. 166.

MEMORANDUM.

WITH reference to the communication made by Count Bernstorff on the 29th ultimo on the subject of the treatment of the German steam-ship "Juliette" at Mauritius, the Governor of that Colony reported on the 19th ultimo, that this vessel, with a general cargo, including frozen meat and naval stores, and also 450 tons of coal, arrived on the 18th ultimo from Antwerp and Madagascar, Diego Suarez being the last port of call. The "Juliette" had been some weeks in Madagascar.

She asked for 900 tons of coal, declaring Batavia to be her next port of call, then Saigon, and lastly Tsintau.

Sir C. Boyle gave permission for 600 tons to be shipped to fill the bunkers, but as a portion of the crew came ashore and stated that she was carrying contraband for the Russian fleet, orders were given to suspend coaling.

Sir C. Boyle having applied for instructions he was informed on the 22nd ultimo that coal should not be supplied to the vessel if it were apparent that she was under the orders of the Russian naval authorities.

Sir C. Boyle stated in reply that on the 24th ultimo an interview took place between the Colonial Secretary and the German Consul, when the latter was handed a letter asking for a declaration from the Captain of the ship and the agents and endorsed by the Consul, to the effect that the "Juliette was not receiving orders of or from any person in the service of either belligerent, and was not attending upon either fleet. Neither the German Consul nor the agents would endorse or give such a declaration, but on the 25th ultimo the Captain gave one which the Governor deemed sufficient to justify the grant of permission to complete the coal cargo. This permission was communicated to the parties concerned on the 26th ultimo, the "Juliette" received 600 tons of coal in all, and left for Saigon on the 28th ultimo.

It may be mentioned that the Captain stated that there were no British seamen on board, which was not in accordance with the facts. Some of the men moreover declared that they had signed only for Port Said, but were not allowed their discharge at that port and were taken on to Mauritius against their will. They further asserted that the stores on board were intended for the Russian fleet.

Foreign Office, May 12, 1905.

• No. 161 A.

16396.

SIR,

No. 168.

FOREIGN OFFICE TO COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received May 16, 1905.)

Foreign Office,

May 15, 1905.

I AM directed by the Marquess of Lansdowne to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th instant, enclosing a copy of a telegram from the Governor of Hong Kong, relative to the treatment of the steam-ships " Florida " and " Tolosan."

It was not so stated in your letter now under reply, but his Lordship has, subsequently to its receipt, been given to understand that Mr. Secretary Lyttelton is awaiting an expression of opinion from this Department with regard to the proposals contained in Sir M. Nathan's telegram. I am therefore to state that it is not clear what is meant by the phrase "satisfactory security," but that should the Governor propose to demand monetary security by way of a bottomry bond or deposit, such condition would, in his Lordship's opinion, be in any ordinary case unduly onerous.

Lord Lansdowne is inclined to think that in the present case an undertaking in writing that the coal cargoes of these vessels will be discharged at Saigon would be sufficient, though it is not impossible that with regard to other vessels exceptional circumstances calling for special precautions and guarantees may arise.

16837.

No. 169.

I am, &c.

F. H. VILLIERS.

FOREIGN OFFICE TO COLONIAL OFFICE.

(Received May 19, 1905.)

[Copy of Enclosure to Governor, Mauritius, May 23, 1905, Confidential, L. F.]

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 under-mentioned paper relative to the steam-ship "Juliette."

Foreign Office, May 18, 1905.

• No. 163.

† No. 165.

L. F., transmitting a copy of No. 162.

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