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The influx of settlers from Texas and elsewhere promises to increase, and as families of hardy Appendix No. 11. Americans, accustomed to rough bush life and well able to defend themselves, form villages and farms on outlying lands, they will prove to be the best protection against Indians, and in a comparatively short time the fear of the Indians will be a thing of the past.
BRITISH HONDURAS.
No. 2.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
FRED. P. BARLEE.
Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad to Colonial Office.
(Confidential.) Sir,
13, Delahay Street, July 22, 1882.
I AM directed by the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 30th May, 1882,* respecting the proposed with- drawal of Imperial troops from the Colony of British Honduras.
The Commission, in making this recommendation, had to consider the question from a military point of view. They did not suggest that the withdrawal should take place at once, and considered that the Colony should be allowed a reasonable time for organizing a force to take the place of the regular troops.
It might be convenient, as suggested by the Governor, to reduce the number of troops in the first instance, but the Commission have no doubt as to the expediency of withdrawing the whole Imperial force at no distant date.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
HERBERT JEKYLL.
Appendix No. 12.
CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO THE REPORTS OF THE ROYAL COMMISSION.
No. 1.
Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad to Colonial Office. (Confidential.) Sir,
13, Delahay Street, September 26, 1881.
I AM directed by the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad to transmit to you their first Report, and to request that it may be laid before the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
I am further to request to be informed of the number of copies which will be required for the use of Her Majesty's Government.
Appendix No. 12.
No. 2.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
HERBERT JEKYLL.
Colonial Office to Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad.
(Confidential.) Sir,
Downing Street, October 19, 1881.
I AM directed by the Earl of Kimberley to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 26th ultimo,† inclosing a copy of the first Report of the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, and requesting to be informed of the number of copies which will be required for the use of Her Majesty's Government.
2. In reply, I am to request that you will state to the Royal Commissioners that it is not possible to state how many copies will be required, but in order to preclude as far as possible the probability of its becoming public, Lord Kimberley would propose to distribute the smallest possible number of copies in the first instance, and for the present will be glad to be furnished with ten copies.
3. I am to add that Lord Kimberley presumes that the Royal Commissioners have not sent copies of their Report except to this Office, and his Lordship therefore proposes now to send copies to the Queen, the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for War, His Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding-in-chief, and the First Lord of the Admiralty, with a strong request that they may be kept strictly confidential.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
ROBERT G. W. HERBERT,
* No. 1 in Appendix No. 11.
† No. 1.
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