No. 614,
(
Sir,
Enclosure No. 4 to Despatch No. 139 of the
10th April, 1903.
516
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 17th March, 1902,
I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 11th instant, with reference to the outrage which was committed in the Streets of this Colony on the 1st instant by sailors belonging to S.M.S. Navy, and to inform you in reply that the statement forwarded therewith cannot be regarded by this Government as satisfactory.
2.
I have to invite your attention to the fact that your letter contains no allusion to the use of the instrument known as a "fighting-iron" which was mentioned in the first enclosure to my letter No. 533 of the 9th instant, and which quite differentiates the incident from what you have termed a "common row". The weapon in question, having been taken from one of the German sailors implicated, is now in the possession of the Police. Your letter, moreover, gives no explanation of the failure of the men concerned to answer to their bail. I need hardly say that the Government of a British Colony can hardly consider that the ends of justice have been fairly met by the withdrawal of offenders against British law from the Magisterial Courts of the Colony or by their trial before a foreign tribunal.
3.
It will be a matter of deep regret to His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government if he finds himself compelled to place restrictions on the movements of German sailors in this Colony or of issuing orders that bail is not to be granted in future. I am therefore to repeat the request contained in my letter No. 533 of the 9th instant and to express a hope that you will be able at your early convenience to furnish a statement which will be more satisfactory to this Government than that which I have had the honour to receive.
I have etc.,
(sgd.) J. Stewart Lockhart, Colonial Secretary.
The Imperial German Consul.
CODY
No. 614,
(
Sir,
Enclosure No. 4' to Despatch No. 139 of the
10th. April, 1903.
516
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 17th. March, 1902,
I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 11th, instant, with reference to the outrage which was committed in the Streets of this Colony on the 1st. instant by sailors belonging to 9... L. 3. Ms. Navy, and to inform you in raply that the statement forwarded therewith cannot be regarded by this Government as satisfactory,"
2.
I have to invite your attention to the fact that your letter contains no allusion to the use of the instrument known as a "fighting-iron" which was mentioned in the first enclosure to my letter No. 533 of the 9th. instant, and which quite differentiates the incident from what you have termed a common row". The weapon in question, having been taken from one of the German sailors implicated, is now in the possession of the Police. Your letter, moreover, gives no explanation of the failure of the men concerned to answer to their bail. I need hardly say that the Government of a British Colony can hardly consider that the ends of justice have been fairly met by the withdraw- al of offenders against British law from the Magisterial Courts of the Jolony or by their trial before a foreign tribunal.
3.
It will be a matter of deep regret to His Excellency the Officer Administering the Jovernment if he finds himself compelled to place restrictions on the movements of German sailors in this Colony or of issuing orders that bail is not to be granted in future. I am therefore to repeat the request contained in my letter No. 533 of the 9th. instant and to express a hope that you will be able at your early convenience to furnish a statement which will be more satisfactory to this Government than that which I have had the honour to receive.
I have etc.,
(sa.) 3. 9. Stewart, Lockhart, Colonial Secretary.
The Imperial Jerman Jonsul.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.