C.O.
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
246
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
[October 5.]
CONFIDENTIAL.
[33583]
(No. 3.) Sir,
No. 1.
SECTION 1C O.
45803
RECH
B 27 NOV
Consul-General Mansfield to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received October 5.)
Canton, September 3, 1906.
I HAVE the honour to forward herewith, in duplicate, copies of a despatch, with inclosures, which I have addressed to His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking on the subject of the claims for compensation advanced by the owners, officers, and crew of the steam-ship "Sainam" for injuries and losses suffered by them on the occasion of the pirating of that vessel on the 18th July last.
I have, &c.
(Signed) R. W. MANSFIELD.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
(No. 42.) Sir,
Consul-General Mansfield to Mr. Carnegie.
Canton, August 31, 1906.
REFERRING to my telegram No. 25 of the 29th August giving summarized rough statements of claims presented by the owners, officers, and crew of the steam-ship "Sainam" in connection with the piracy of that vessel on the 13th ultimo, I have now the honour to forward-
1. Statement of claim of the owners.
2. Statement of claim of the captain, officers, and crew.
3. Letter of the 21st August, 1906, to owners,
4. Letter of the 25th August, 1906, from owners.
5. Additional medical certificate on health of Captain Joslin.
6. Medical certificate on health of Engineer Seggie.
I am taking steps to obtain from Hong Kong further particulars of the injuries to the three Indian watchmen. These appear, in the cases of Ali Akbar and Khan Mahomed, to be very severe. If the principle is admitted that compensation is due by the Chinese authorities to the relatives of the murdered Dr. Macdonald, it would appear that the officers and crew, as well as the owners, are entitled to reimbursement of their losses, and those who have been injured to a further sum as an indemnity.
As I had the honour to receive telegraphic instructions from you to present no claims that had not first been referred to the Secretary of State, and it did not appear advisable to present the claim for Mrs. Macdonald alone if other claims were to be made subsequently, I have not yet approached the Viceroy at all on the subject. I shall, of course, do so when instructed, but I must say here that I do not entertain the faintest hope that I shall receive anything but a flat refusal. The present Viceroy's attitude all along has been to deny any obligation under Treaty to do more in such cases than endeavour to punish the perpetrators of crimes and recover property stolen. On two occasions when, under instructions from you, I presented to him small claims of a similar nature, I was met with a statement to the above effect and a categorical refusal, and all my arguments were ignored. The American Government has lately presented a considerable claim against the Viceroy for the lives of the missionaries killed at Lienchow. This is in addition to the claim for property destroyed, which was discussed and paid here. The new claim, of which the Viceroy has only lately been notified, is, however, to be discussed in Washington.
[2183 e-1]
B
C.O.
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
246
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
[October 5.]
CONFIDENTIAL.
[33583]
(No. 3.) Sir,
No. 1.
SECTION 1C O.
45803
RECH
B 27 NOV
Consul-General Mansfield to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received October 5.)
Canton, September 3, 1906. I HAVE the honour to forward herewith, in duplicate, copies of a despatch, with inclosures, which I have addressed to His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking on the subject of the claims for compensation advanced by the owners, officers, and crew of the steam-ship "Sainam" for injuries and losses suffered by them on the occasion of the pirating of that vessel on the 18th July last.
I have, &c.
(Signed) R. W. MANSFIELD.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
(No. 42.) Sir,
Consul-General Mansfield to Mr. Carnegie.
Canton, August 31, 1906. REFERRING to my telegram No. 25 of the 29th August giving summarized rough statements of claims presented by the owners, officers, and crew of the steam-ship "Sainam" in connection with the piracy of that vessel on the 13th ultimo, I have now the honour to forward-
1. Statement of claim of the owners.
2. Statement of claim of the captain, officers, and crew.
3. Letter of the 21st August, 1906, to owners,
4. Letter of the 25th August, 1906, from owners.
6. Additional medical certificate on health of Captain Joslin.
6. Medical certificate on health of Engineer Seggie.
I am taking steps to obtain from Hong Kong further particulars of the injuries to the three Indian watchmen. These appear, in the cases of Ali Akbar and Khan Mahomed, to be very severe. If the principle is admitted that compensation is due by the Chinese authorities to the relatives of the murdered Dr. Macdonald, it would appear that the officers and crew, as well as the owners, are entitled to reimbursement of their losses, and those who have been injured to a further sum as an indemnity.
As I had the honour to receive telegraphic instructions from you to present no claims that had not first been referred to the Secretary of State, and it did not appear advisable to present the claim for Mrs. Macdonald alone if other claims were to be made subsequently, I have not yet approached the Viceroy at all on the subject. I shail, of course, do so when instructed, but I must say here that I do not entertain the faintest hope that I shall receive anything but a flat refusal. The present Viceroy's attitude all along has been to deny any obligation under Treaty to do more in such cases than endeavour to punish the perpetrators of crimes and recover property stolen. On two occasions when, under instructions from you, I presented to him small claims of a similar nature, I was met with a statement to the above effect and a categorical refusal, and all my arguments were ignored. The American Government has lately presented a considerable claim against the Viceroy for the lives of the missionaries killed at Lienchow. This is in addition to the claim for property destroyed, which was discussed and paid here. The new claim, of which the Viceroy has only lately been notified, is, however, to be discussed in Washington.
[2183 e-1]
B
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