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(Secret and Confidential.)
14
No. 16.
Colonial Office to War Office.
Sir,
Downing Street, March 13, 1879. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to request that you will inform Secretary Colonel Stanley that he would be glad to be furnished with six copies of General Sir Lintorn Simmons' Confidential Memorandum on the subject of the defence of the Colonies which accompanied your Confidential letter of the 16th January.*
I am, (Signed)
&c.
ROBERT G. W. HERBERT.
No. 17.
War Office to Colonial Office.
War Office, March 19, 1879.
(Confidential.) Sir,
I AM directed by the Secretary of State for War to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 13th instant,† and, in reply, to transmit the inclosed six copies of General Sir Lintorn Simmons' Confidential Memorandum on the defence of the Colonies, as requested by you.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
RALPH THOMPSON.
No. 18.
Admiral Sir A. Milne, Bart., G.C.B., to Colonial Office.
(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,
Committee Room, Whitehall, April 9, 1879.
I AM desired by the members of the Committee which was nominated in the month of March of last year "to inquire and report as to the defences of the more important Colonial ports," to inform you that the Committee at once met and continued their inquiries during the months of March, April, May, and June, and submitted from time to time, and with as little delay as possible, their reports and recommendations for the temporary defences of the Colonial ports, as per the inclosed return.
When, however, the prospect of war had evidently passed, a letter was addressed to you by me on the 4th January last, stating that, as the recommendations which had been submitted were entirely of a temporary character to meet a sudden and pressing want, it would, in the opinion of the Committee, be advisable, with the view of saving future expense, if some of these defences at the more important Colonial ports were so far altered or extended as to convert them into permanent works.
The Committee have not yet received any reply to this communication, and the members are unable to enter on the important question referred to them, respecting the apportionment of the expense of the defences between the Imperial and Colonial Govern- ments, until they are acquainted with the decision of Her Majesty's Government respecting any alterations in these temporary defences.
The members of the Committee have requested me to make their views known to you for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and would request your further instructions as to their proceedings.
I have, &c.
(Signed) ALEX. MILNE, President:
* No. 4.
† No. 16.
‡ No. 2.
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