CO129-435 - Governor Sir May & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1916 [9-11] — Page 199

COPY

KGL. NORSK VICEKONSULAT

Hongkong.

195

Hongkong, September 14th, 1916.

Sir,

With reference to our conversation on the 12th instant

regarding the seizure of mail at open sea on Norwegian steamers

plying between Swatow and Bangkok, I have the honour to inform

you, that the Norwegian Vice-Consulate at Swatow has reported

to the Consulate General of Norway at Shanghai, that the Norwe-

gian s/s. "Drufar" was stopped on the 16th of last month 10

miles off Swatow by the British cruiser "Psyche" and all the

mail (4 bags) which the ship was carrying from Bangkok for

Swatow were taken away. Further the mail which the Norwegian B/s. "Haldis" and the a/s. "Drufar" recently carried from Swatow

for Bangkok were also taken away by British warships.

As it was agreed upon in the Hague Convention of 1907

that all mail, whether belonging to neutrals or belligerents,

being at sea in a neutral vessel should be inviolable, I have

been instructed by the Consulate General of Norway, Shanghai, to lodge a protest against the seizure of mail on Norwegian steamers plying between China and Siam.

Although, in a memorandum to the Norwegian Minister of

Foreign Affairs of April the 3rd, 1916, Hia Britannic Majesty's

Minister at Christiania asserts, that the Allied Govermenta, in

spite of the above mentioned stipulation in the Hague Convention,

are entitled to search for and seize goods forwarded as mail matters, I presume the contents of the said memorandum does not

apply to seizure of mail in neutral steamers between China and

Siam.

Honourable

The Colonial Secretary.

I have, etc.,

(SD.)

S. Steckmeat, Vice-Consul for Norway.