the form and the tone of the Admiral's refusal indiested a fixed decision not
to render assistance. The Committee therefore considered it desirable to refer the matter to the bigher Authorities.
If the Admiral had given in his letter to Captain HOPKINS any of the reasons, such as distance, state of the weather, hopelessness of the task, greater nearuoss of Singapore as a point of relief, etc, there would have been less cause for complaint, but his refusal and intimation that it was work to be done by the Scottish Oriental Co. for themselves with their own vessels engaged in the Java trade, showed an unwillingness on his part to entertain the matter further.
The Committee submits that this view is borne out by the statement now made by H. E. the Admiral to the effect that his real reason was not the one given to Captain HOPKINS; para. 4 of the Admiral's said letter reads--"My decision was not based upon the supposition that the Company "would take any measures for their own part, but on the futility of instituting
"a search under the cirenmstances of the case as presented to me."
If H. E. the Admiral had asked why a vessel of the Scottish Oriental line could not be sent, if he had suggested or offered a search from Singapore, if he had enquired as to the condition of the missing vessel, sail power, etc., etc., there would have been an opening for further correspondence, but as it was the Committee does not see that Captain HOPKINS is to blaine for not going further into the question with the Admiral, If the Admiral had asked for all the information he now suggests was needful, and given tite reasons kc now givos, the Committee is still of opinion that a vessel ought to have been despatched to search for the Somdetch Phra Nang, her boats, and crew.
The Admiral's letter, paragraph 6, reads--" Now, the great Island of "Luzon is the principal Island of the Philippine Group, with main telegraphic "communication throughout its length, and a large coasting trade, and it is "altogether unreasonable to suppose that a British vessel could be in any of "its bays or wrecked upon its coast for two days without the fact becoming "kuown to H. M.'s Consul at Manila,” &e.
The Committee respectfully submits that it is possible for a vessel to lie in several of the bays of Southern Tazon for a lengthy period unnoticed, as
a very considerable portion of the coast line is not supplied with telegraph stations, and coast trade is infrequent in bad weather. In the same storm the S.S. Kong Beng, took shelter off the coast, but owing to the fact that telegraphic communication with Mauila was interrupted from the beginning of December till the second week in January last, great anxiety was caused by want of news of her. She ultimately however arrived here safely, after the Hungchow.
At the time the application was made to Adoviral RICHARDS it was well within the bounds of possibility that the Somdetch Phra Nang or one or more of her boats with some of her crew, might still have been in existence ou the coast of Luzon, or on the Coast of the Island of Mindoro, or Panay, or Negros, or Mindanao, or Palawan, etc.
The Committee is of opinion that so long as there was that possibility, it was the duty of the Admiral with the large available force at his disposal, to have taken steps to ascertain the real position, and afford assistance in endeavouring to save life and property. If in his opinion the vessel could not be worth of Manila, then it was, the Committee thinks, in the Admiral's power to have ordered assistance to be sent from the South. That in the opinion of the Admiral it would have been a forloru hope to have sent a vessel to search for the Somdetch Phra Nang is regrettable, for the chances of the Sea are so various that many times the following up of such forlorn hopes has resulted in the saving of human life.
If the Admiral really thought
it was a forlorn hope how did he suggost, as he did do, the employment of
one of the Company's own vessels on an absolutely useless and unavailing search!
:
Admiral RICHARDS complains that the Committee instituted a comparison
between bis action in regard to the Namchow, and his refusal to act in the case of the Somdetch Phra Nang. The Committee still thinks that it is a fair and reasonable comparison.
The Committee deeply regrets that His Excellency the Admiral should have so far misunderstood the scope and purport of its letter as to suppose that it imputed, or imputes, to him improper or unworthy motives in the one case or in the other. The Committee has no doubt whatever that His Ex- cellency was influenced, both in his action and in his inaction, by a sense of duty and that no improper or unworthy motives could possibly be attri- buted to him. If the Committee thought that its letter could possibly be construed as imputing any unworthy motive, the Committee would unbesi- tatingly withdraw it. But surely the Chamber of Commerce is at liberty to refer the matter to the higher authorities, and to ask for a decision whether This Excellency the Admiral's views as to his duties and responsibilities are correct, and the Committee desires again to record its opinion that the assist- ance so freely given in the case of the Namchow should have been as freely and as willingly given in the ease of the Somdetch Phra Nang, and regrets extremely that it was not so given.
I have the honour to be,
(Segnin)
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
I. Henderson
Secretary.
597
pril
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