CO129-325 - Public Offices & Others - 1904 — Page 247

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

245

I have ventured to bring this matter to Your Lordship's notice, as although the objections raised by the crews in the circumstances described by Mr Holmes appear to be clearly untenable, a case of a kindred nature may arise in which the seamen's refusal to work may be due to there being real danger of capture. In such cases I should be in doubt as to what course should be pursued, and I should, therefore, be very glad to be supplied with any observations which may occur to the Board of Trade as likely to be useful for my guidance.

A more serious case than those reported by Mr Holmes occurred at Yokohama some weeks ago, the circumstances of which have been reported to the Board of Trade by Mr Acting Consul General Hobart Hampden. The case was that of the Steamship "Ras Bera" - a British ship under Japanese charter, whose crew refused duty on the ground that the ship was carrying contraband of war to a Japanese port. Mr Hobart Hampden held a Naval Court which decided that carrying contraband of war was no justification for the men's refusal to work. It therefore forfeited their wages and discharged them from the ship.

I shall be interested to learn whether the decision of this Naval Court has been approved by the Board of Trade.

I have:

(Signed)

etc.

Claude M. Macdonald.

P.S. I enclose an extract from a private letter from Mr Holmes from which Your Lordship will see that the Master of the "Ashley" one of the three vessels referred to in this despatch had already had difficulties with his crew at Hongkong.

(Signed) C. M. Macdonald

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245 I have ventured to bring this matter to Your Lordship's notice, as although the objections raised by the crews in the circumstances described by Mr Holmes appear to be clearly untenable, a case of a kindred nature may arise in which the seamen's refusal to work may be due to there being real danger of capture. In such cases I should be in doubt as to what course should be pursued, and I should, therefore, be very glad to be supplied with any observations which may occur to the Board of Trade as likely to be useful for my guidance. A more serious case than those reported by Mr Holmes occurred at Yokohama some weeks ago, the circumstances of which have been reported to the Board of Trade by Mr Acting Consul General Hobart Hampden. The case was that of the Steamship "Ras Bera" - a British ship under Japanese charter, whose crew refused duty on the ground that the ship was carrying contraband of war to a Japanese port. Mr Hobart Hampden held a Naval Court which decided that carrying contraband of war was no justification for the men's refusal to work. It therefore forfeited their wages and discharged them from the ship. I shall be interested to learn whether the decision of this Naval Court has been approved by the Board of Trade. I have: (Signed) etc. Claude M. Macdonald. P.S. I enclose an extract from a private letter from Mr Holmes from which Your Lordship will see that the Master of the "Ashley" one of the three vessels referred to in this despatch had already had difficulties with his crew at Hongkong. (Signed) C. M. Macdonald
Baseline (Original)
245 AY OT rizma selain ens .. *d* -bay aboléondant wate # -1 karat erone bo unda dia: bev bytu fall in th nagab 53 no show o' bearton but proq dan 3 aboadentron polymist $15W SIE LÉV I,eoivha s**? * nec bo evitatngsaengen gaituel est to Bang". 163 Zom en? + , * $500 ke 1*** Luengo yalinÅ 1. 16 molt, evnetai s ONSH 7 Jan aweto sit ate hynod 07 Bic. 927 Sir attery has etiam la caly yra of belt line benglagan sow heulanaman. $82 inid a* tro¶ and J* Dinagaɔɔ baung VNA #1 - Nepmal +TEV SWON! tab BeritaH 52 GONTE LO SAJ 1 8010 Ja Ijall fa læðs to o8149 » brend no $ að`6* Jnoda al Dia vot de?:18 2: * I have ventured to bring this matter to Your Lord- ship's notice, as although the objections raised by the crews in the circumstances described by Mr Holmes appear to be clearly untenable, case of a kindred nature may arise in which the seamen's refusal to work may be due to there being real danger of capture. In such cases I should be in doubt as to what course should be pursued, and I should, therefore be vary glad to be supplied with any obser- vations which may occur to the Board of Trade as like- ly to be useful for my guidance. A more serious case than those reported by Mr Holmes occurred at Yokohama some weeks ago, the circumstances of which have been reported to the Board of Trade by Mr Acting Consul General Hobart Hampden. The case was that of the Steamship "Ras Bera" - a British ship under Japanese charter, whose crew refused duty on the ground that the ship was carrying contraband of war to a Japanese port. Mr Hobart Hampden held a Naval Court which decided that - carrying contraband of War was no justification for the men's refusal to work. It therefore forfeited* their wages and discharged them from the ship. I shall be interested to learn whethar the decis- ion of this Naval Court has been approved by the Board of Trade. 24 $1ẰNG meatung matecoë e d roal. 26 #IE man) Buent day Jon Van I Jug ** A "UNA 11: Jend ixesoraida de koeran a'utent Ipak je tudBoT) Die mit svært w510 I ,.0.2,am punued to 5.8. t I have: (81gned) etc. Claude M. Macdonald. P.B. I enclose an extract from a private letter from Mr Holmes from which Your Lordship will see that the Master of the "Ashley" one of the three vessals re- ferred to in this despatch had already had difficul- ties with his crew at Hongkong. Quat کی (Signed) C. M. Macdonald
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245

AY OT

rizma selain ens

..

*d* -bay aboléondant wate

#

-1 karat erone bo unda dia:

bev bytu fall in th

nagab 53

no show o' bearton but proq dan 3

aboadentron polymist $15W SIE LÉV

I,eoivha s**? * nec €

bo evitatngsaengen gaituel est to Bang".

163 Zom en?

+

,

*

$500

ke 1***

Luengo yalinÅ 1. 16 molt, evnetai s

ONSH YÊ 7 Jan aweto sit ate hynod 07 Bic. 927 Sir

attery has etiam la caly yra of belt line

benglagan sow heulanaman. $82 inid a* tro¶ and J*

Dinagaɔɔ 1ɔ baung VNA #1 - Nepmal

+TEV SWON!

tab BeritaH

52

GONTE LO

SAJ 1 8010 Ja

Ijall fa læðs to o8149 » brend no $ að`6* Jnoda al

Dia vot

de?:18 2:

*

I have ventured to bring this matter to Your Lord-

ship's notice, as although the objections raised by

the crews in the circumstances described by Mr

Holmes appear to be clearly untenable, case of a kindred nature may arise in which the seamen's

refusal to work may be due to there

being real danger

of capture. In such cases I should be in doubt as

to what course should be pursued, and I should, therefore be vary glad to be supplied with any obser- vations which may occur to the Board of Trade as like-

ly to be useful for my guidance.

A more serious case than those reported by Mr Holmes occurred at Yokohama some weeks ago, the circumstances of which have been reported to the Board of Trade by Mr Acting Consul General Hobart

Hampden. The case was that of the Steamship "Ras Bera" - a British ship under Japanese charter, whose crew refused duty on the ground that the ship was carrying contraband of war to a Japanese port. Mr Hobart Hampden held a Naval Court which decided that - carrying contraband of War was no justification for the men's refusal to work. It therefore forfeited*

their wages and discharged them from the ship.

I shall be interested to learn whethar the decis- ion of this Naval Court has been approved by the Board of Trade.

24 $1ẰNG meatung matecoë e d roal. 26

#IE man) Buent day Jon Van I

Jug **

A "UNA

11:

Jend ixesoraida de koeran a'utent

Ipak je tudBoT) Die mit svært w510

I

,.0.2,am punued to 5.8.

t

I have:

(81gned)

etc.

Claude M. Macdonald.

P.B.

I enclose an extract from a private letter from

Mr Holmes from which Your Lordship will see that the Master of the "Ashley" one of the three vessals re- ferred to in this despatch had already had difficul-

ties with his crew at Hongkong.

Quat

کی

(Signed) C. M. Macdonald

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