CO129-305 - Governor Sir Blake - 1901 [5-7] — Page 13

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COPY.

J. No. 419.

Sir,

ENCLOSURE 5.

10339

Hongkong, 19th. February, 1898.

10

In reply to your letter No. 230 of the 18th. instant, I have the honour to inform you that the question if Ahrens has been, or is still, a German subject can only be decided by the German Authorities in Germany as there is no

documental proof at hand.

But this question is of little consequence

as a German Consul without obtaining beforehand the consent of the home authorities is not entitled to spend their money in order to repatriate a German subject bis nationality being proved or not. What I wished to say in my letter of the 14th. instant was that acknowledging the probability of Ahrens' being a German subject I am nevertheless owing to want of money for that purpose unable to send him home or to do anything for his which would put him in a better position.

If you wish that I report the matter to my Government I am quite willing to do so but do not think that I should obtain the consent to send Ahrens home as he has come into his present position by his own fault.

If your Government resolves to send Ahrens to Singapore I am prepared to pay the passage vis:- $15 or $20 though am not allowed to use official money for that purpose.

I have etc.,

(sd.) L. von Loeper,

Imperial German Consul.

To

The Honourable

The Colonial Secretary.`