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CAPE OF GOOD
HOPE.
10. As regards Griqualand West, I believe that the inhabitants are fully able to make provision Appendix No. 4. or at all events to pay entirely for their own defence, but it sometimes happens that Government requires a thoroughly reliable force to support its authority, as occurred in my predecessor's time, when Sir Arthur Cunynghame was obliged to move a small force to the Diamond Fields. It is quite possible that such necessity may recur, and in such circumstances I would observe that colonial troops are less useful and less available than regulars, and that we shall have no troops at King William's Town, and none to spare at Cape Town.
11. After all, however, the number of troops in a country like this is of far less importance than their mobility, their being prepared and equipped for rapid action, and capable of being used energeti- cally when wanted and wherever wanted.
12. For public safety it seems to me to be a prime requisite that there should be one authority in South Africa able to command all organized forces as well as Imperial throughout South Africa. Under such authority a small back bone of regular professional soldiers may suffice. With divided authority and troops immobile either from divided authority or insufficient equipment a far larger regular force must be insufficient always to insure peace.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
H. B. E. FRERE.
No. 23.
Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad to War Office.
13, Delahay Street, March 13, 1880.
Sir,
I AM directed by the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions aud Commerce Abroad to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 28th February* respecting the proposed dis- tribution of troops in South Africa.
I am to state, in reply, for the information of the Secretary of State for War, that the Commission having had before them the correspondence which passed on the subject between Sir B. Frere and Sir G. Wolseley, fully recognize the importance of the question, what military force should be maintained in the Transvaal and Zululand; but they consider it as a question of internal defence, and not falling within the scope of their inquiry.
On one point, however, which is raised by the correspondence which has been forwarded to them by the Secretary of State for War, the Commission are able to express a clear opinion, viz., that the Cape must be treated as an important Imperial naval and military station, and on that ground must always be protected by an adequate force of regular troops.
Of what that force should consist, the Commission are at present not prepared to advise, but they would urge upon the War Office, when deciding this point, to bear in mind the distance from England, and the time which it must take to send out reinforcements on the occurrence of an emergency.
Whether and to what extent the Colony should contribute towards the cost of the force so kept at the Cape is a question which the Royal Commission have not yet had time to consider.
I have, &c. (Signed)
HERBERT JEKYLL.
No. 24.
(Secret.) Sir,
Circular to Canada and Cape of Good Hope.
Downing Street, March 6, 1880.
I HAVE the honour to transmit to you a copy of a letter from the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, stating that they hope to arrive at a stage of their inquiry by the beginning of June next, when they will desire to hear any opinions which your Government may entertain on the important matters referred to them by Her Majesty, and specifying the heads of information with which they desire to be furnished.
2. You will observe that your Government is invited, if it desires, to depute a Delegate to appear before the Commission, and that it is pointed out that a great part of the evidence taken by the Commission will be strictly confidential.
3. I request that you will bring this important question under the consideration of your Ministers with as little delay as possible, and that you will favour me with the reply of your Government at the earliest convenient opportunity.
No. 25.
I have, &c. (Signed)
M. E. HICKS BEACH.
Sir,
Colonial Office to Captain Charles Mills, C.M.G.
Downing Street, March 10, 1880.
THE Secretary of State for the Colonies understands that you have been asked to give evidence before the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad respecting the defences of the Cape Colony, but that before doing so you desired to have an opportunity of again
* No. 22.
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