Page 144
Page 144
Appendix No. 4.
MAURITIUS.
(General.) Sir,
116
Inclosure 4 in No. 42.
The Earl of Kimberley to Sir G. Bowen.
Downing Street, October 25, 1880.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 5th September,* with reference to the defence of Mauritius; and I have to inform you that a copy has been transmitted to the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, together with copies of your despatches of the 21st April and the 1st May,† referred to in the third paragraph of the despatch now acknowledged.
You will have learnt from my despatch of the 30th July, marked General, the decision arrived at with regard to the formation of a rifle volunteer company in Mauritius.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
KIMBERLEY.
No. 43.
Sir,
Colonial Office to Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad.
Downing Street, December 10, 1880. WITH reference to your letter of the 15th October last,§ I am directed by the Earl of Kimberley to transmit to you, for the information of the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, a copy of a letter from the War Office, respecting the proposed establishment of direct telegraphic communication between Mauritius and this country. I am also to inclose a copy of a despatch which has been addressed to the Acting Governor of Mauritius on the subject.
I am, &c. (Signed)
ROBERT G. W. HERBERT.
Inclosure 1 in No. 43.
War Office to Colonial Office.
Sir,
War Office, November 24, 1880.
I HAVE laid before the Secretary of State for War your letter of the 29th ultimo, with its inclosures, on the subject of the proposed construction of a line of telegraph to Mauritius.
In reply, I am to acquaint you, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that Mr. Childers concurs in the proposal of Lord Kimberley to inform the Governor of Mauritius of the decision arrived at on the subject, by communicating to him the substance of the first paragraph of the letter from the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, dated the 15th October, 1880,§ inclosed in your letter under reply.
I am, at the same time, to express Mr. Childers' opinion that the extension of telegraphic com- munication to Mauritius would be of great importance in the event of war with a maritime Power.
I have, &c. (Signed)
RALPH THOMPSON.
Inclosure 2 in No. 43.
The Earl of Kimberley to Lieutenant-Governor Broome.
(General.) Šir,
Downing Street, December 10, 1880. HER Majesty's Government have had under their consideration the despatches which Sir G. F. Bowen has addressed to this Department on the subject of the proposed establishment of direct tele- graphic communication between Mauritius and this country, as well as your letter of the 13th April last on this subject. I have also consulted the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Posses- sions and Commerce Abroad.
Although there can be no question that the establishment of telegraphic communication with Mauritius would be of great value to the administration and commerce of Mauritius, and would materially assist the defence of public and private interests in time of war, Her Majesty's Government are not of opinion that existing circumstances would justify the grant of a large subsidy from Imperial funds; and as the unaided resources of the Colony could apparently not bear the cost, I fear that the proposal must, for the present at least, remain in abeyance.
*Inclosure 1. Inclosure in No. 40.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
KIMBERLEY.
Inclosures 2 and 3 in No. 42.
§ No. 41.
Inclosure in No. 37.
Page 144
Page 144
a
Page 144