CO129-447 - Governor Sir May - 1918 [1-3] — Page 537

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NO CONFIDENTIAL.

Sir,

REC

C.O

27191

REG 5 JUN 18

529

GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

HONGKONG. 26th. March, 1918.

nclosure L

13339

I have the honour to inform you that in accordance with the instructions conveyed in your telegram of the 16th. March, I gave the Commodore every facility to effect the requisition of the S. S. "Tobolsk". The vessel had on board a cargo for Suigon, where she is under contract to a Japanese Company to load rice for Japan. The cargo has been removed from the vessel here and she has been transferred to the British flag with a British crew in accordance with Admiralty instructions. The vessel has been taken over by Mesare. Jardine, Matheson & Co., Ltd., and it is presumed that His Majesty's Goverment will assume responsibility for the non-fulfilment of the contract with the Japanese Company.

On the 22nd. March the Russian stemmer "Indigirka" arrived in Hongkong and was requisitioned by the Naval Authorities on the following day, the red ensign being hoisted and an armed guard placed on board.

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Both the Russia Consul and the French Consul have addressed letters to the Government requesting information as to the reasons for the action taken. I enclose

a note of a conversation I had with the Russian Consul on the 24th. March, and copies of a letter I subsequently addressed to him and of his reply.

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

WALTER LONG, M.P

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