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CORRESPONDENCE AND REPORTS.
Sir,
No. 1.
Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad to Colonial Office.
13, Delahay Street, March 2, 1880. WITH reference to my letter of the 20th February,* relative to obtaining witnesses from the larger self-governing Colonies to give evidence before the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Pos- sessions and Commerce Abroad, I am directed by the Commission to say that they think that these are all the witnesses they will be able to dispose of in the course of the summer, but that later on in the investigation they will be glad to receive evidence from the other Colonies, and beg that Sir M. Hicks-Beach will intimate to them that they will come under consideration in due time.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
HERBERT JEKYLL.
No. 2.
Sir,
Colonial Office to Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad.
Downing Street, July 15, 1880.
I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, to be laid before the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, a copy of a Circular despatch which has been addressed to certain Colonies with reference to your letter of the 2nd March last.†
I am, &c.
(Signed)
ROBERT G. W. HERBERT.
Inclosure in No. 2.
Sir,
Circular to all Colonies except Canada, Cape, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, Tasmania, and New Zealand.
Downing Street, June 23, 1880.
I HAVE the honour to acquaint you, with reference to my predecessor's Circular despatch of the 21st October last, that the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad hope shortly to arrive at a stage of their inquiry when they will wish to be informed of the views entertained by the Governments of the Colonies upon the following among other points:-
1. The defence of ports and their armaments.
2. The raising and maintaining of local forces.
3. Naval defence; and they have suggested, with a view of securing this object, that the Govern- ment of each Colony should depute some one to speak on its part to the Commission.
In accordance with this suggestion, invitations have been issued to the Governments of the principal Australasian Colonies, and of the Dominion of Canada and of the Cape of Good Hope, to appoint Delegates to represent their views to the Commission during the course of the present
summer.
The Commission do not think that they will be able to hear witnesses from any other Colonies at present, but they have asked me to inform you that the circumstances of the Colony under your Government will not fail to receive consideration in due time, and that later on in their investigation they will be glad to receive evidence on behalf of your Government.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
KIMBERLEY.
* No. 4 A in Appendix No. 4 to Second Report.
+ No. 1.
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Appendix No. 4.
CORRESPONDENCE AND REPORTS.
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