J. No. 949.
Sir,
Enclosure No. 5 to Despatch No. 139 of the 10th April, 1902.
Hongkong, 19th March, 1903.
517
17th instant
I have immediately forwarded your letter of the No. 314 to the present commander of H.M.S. "Kaiserin Augusta" who took command of the ship on the 13th instant. He informs me that his predecessor was of the opinion that, like he had seen in other colonies, in cases where a foreign mariner was let out on bail, it was the customary way not to make him appear in Court but to forfeit the bail. I am very sorry to see from your letter that your Government conceived the idea that the former commander of the "Kaiserin Augusta" meant to defy the competent authorities by withdrawing his men from Court and punishing them himself. I beg you to be convinced that nothing in this line occurred to the commander's mind; the fact is simply that he acted upon the presumption which, it appears, was erroneous - that it would be convenient to the competent authorities to see the affair settled by the guilty parties forfeiting their bail.
As to the instrument known as a "fighting iron", the first defendant (Remle) admits to have used it in self-defence; for having made use of such a weapon special punishment has been meted out to him.
It would be a matter of deep regret to me if His Excellency the Acting Governor felt compelled to issue special orders against German mariners in this Colony. I may justly say that generally German mariners are well enough disciplined not to commit excesses against the public order of a foreign port; if, by exception, such an excess has happened and if the guilty parties have not been brought to Court but punished on board, I beg you to feel sure that the German Naval Authorities proceeded in full bona fide and that they did not intend to act in a way not agreeable to or disapproved by the Authorities of this Colony.
Hoping that the above statement will be considered satisfactory and that the good relations between your Government and this Consulate will not be strained by an incident not due to me.
I have etc.,
(S1.) E. Gumprecht,
Imperial German Consul.
The Honourable
The Colonial Secretary,
Hongkong.
To
(
J. No. 949.
Sir,
Enclosure No. 5. to Despatch No. 139 of the
10th. April, 1902.-
Hongkong, 19th. March, 1903.
517
17th. instant
t
-
I have inueliately forwarded your letter of the
No.314
to the present commander of H. M. S.: "Kaiserin Augusta" who took command of the ship on the 13th. instant. He informs me that his predecessor was of the opinion that, like he bal seen in other colonies, in cases where a foreign mariner was let out on bail, it was the customary way not to make him appear in Court but tɔ forfeit the bail. I am very sorry to see from your letter that your Government conceived the idea that the former commander of the "Kaiserin Augusta" meant to defy the competent authorities by withdrawing his men from Court and punishing then himself. I beg you to be convinced that nothing in this line occurred to the commander's mind; the fact is simply that he acted upon the presumption which, it appears, was erroneous - that it would be convenient to the competent authorities to see the affair settled by the guilty parties forfeiting their bail.
As to the instrument known as a "fighting iron", the first defendant (Remle) admits to have used it in self-defence; for having made use of such a weapon special punishment has been meted out to him.
It would be a matter of deep regret to me if Ris Excellency the Acting Governor felt compelled to issue special orders against Jerman mariners in this Colony. I may justly say that generally Jerman mariners are well enough disciplined not to commit excesses against the public order of a foreign port; if, by exception, such an excess has happened and if the guilty parties have not been brought to Court but punished on board, I beg you to feel sure that the German Naval Authorities proceeded in full bona file and that they did not intend to act in a way not agreeable to or disapproved by the Authori- ties of this Colony.
Hoping that the above statement will be consi-
dered satisfactory and that the good relations between your Government and this Consulate will not be strained by an incilant not due to me.
I have etc.,
(S1.) 3. Gumprecht,
Imperial fernan Consul.
The Honourable
The Colonial Secretary,
Rongkong.
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