CO129-515-1 Piracy- legal proceedings arising from sinking of S.S. 'IRENE' 18-1-1929 - 6-9-1929 — Page 95

a.

In any further communication this subject, please quote

No. F 1605/72/10

and address-

not to any person by name,

but to-

The Under-Secretary of State,"

Foreign Office,

London, S.W.1.

RE

13 A. 20

Sir,

لسه

in Dane o

n

627}}

FOREIGN OFFICE

S.W.1.

92

12th April, 1929.

I am directed by Secretary Sir Austen Chamberlain to

transmit, herewith, copy of a despatch from His Majesty's

Minister at Peking reporting the presentation by the Minister

for Foreign Affairs of a claim for compensation in respect

of the sinking of S.S. "Irene" in Bias Bay on October 20th 1927.

Sir Austen Chamberlain has no official information

Copy for. 8.

2.

as to the issue of the action brought in the Hongkong Courts

by the China Merchants Steam Navigation Company against the

commander of His Majesty's Submarine L 4, but he understands

that it was dismissed. He is however advised that the result

of municipal proceedings is not necessarily conclusive on

the question of international liability; and that in this

case it may depend on the grounds on which the action was

dismissed.

3.

Sir Austen Chamberlain will accordingly be glad

if Mr. Secretary Amery will furnish him with a text of the

judgement given in the proceedings in the Hongkong Court,

together with his views as to the reply to be returned to the

Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs.

4. A copy of this letter is being sent to the

Admiralty for their observations.

The Under Secretary of State,

Colonial Office.

I am

Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

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