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Appendix No. 6.
CANADA.
and I am to inclose a draft of a despatch which, with Mr. Childers' concurrence, his Lordship proposes to address to the Governor-General of Canada, informing his Lordship of the course which it is pro- posed to take.
Appendix No. 7.
AUSTRALIA,
Inclosure 11 in No. 1.
War Office to Colonial Office.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
R. H. MEADE.
Sir,
War Office, January 25, 1881.
IN reply to your letter of the 17th instant,* I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to acquaint you, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that Mr. Childers concurs in Lord Kimberley's suggestion that the whole of the correspondence on the subject of raising a Canadian contingent for Imperial service should be referred for the consideration of the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, and also in the draft of a despatch which it is proposed to address to the Governor-General of Canada, informing his Lordship of the course which is to be taken on the question.
I have, &c.
Inclosure 12 in No. 1.
(Signed)
RALPH THOMPSON,
(Confidential.) My Lord,
The Earl of Kimberley to the Marquis of Lorne.
Downing Street, January 27, 1881.
I DULY received, and have had under my consideration, your Lordship's Confidential despatches of the 12th and 17th May,† with reference to the proposed organization of a Canadian contingent for the Imperial reserve. The Secretary of State for War has also given these despatches his careful
consideration.
The question raised in your despatch is a very large one, involving the decision of principles affecting the Colonies generally, as well as the future organization of the military power of the Empire; and it appears impossible to deal with it as an isolated proposal. Her Majesty's Government have therefore decided to submit the whole of the correspondence for the consideration of the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad.
I have, &c.
Appendix No. 7.
AUSTRALIA.
(Signed)
(IN CONTINUATION OF APPENDIX No. 4, SECOND REPORT.)
No. 1.
KIMBERLEY.
Colonial Office to Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad.
Downing Street, April 21, 1882.
Sir,
I AM directed by the Earl of Kimberley to transmit to you, to be laid before the Royal Commis- sion on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, a copy of a despatch form the Governor of Western Australia, requesting that two guns may be presented by Her Majesty's Govern- ment to the Colony for the protection of the harbour at Freemantle.†
I am also to transmit copies of the correspondence bearing upon the subject, together with a copy of a letter from the Treasury, from which it will be seen that the Lords Commissioners desire to receive the opinion of the Defence Commission upon certain points before deciding upon the application from the Governor of Western Australia.
*Inclosure 10.
+ Inclosures 1 and 2.
Inclosure 1.
§ Inclosure 17.
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