2
Page 94
10. The Colonial Defence Committee concur in the desirability of main- taining a reserve of small arms at Singapore, but they consider that 800 would fully suffice.
11. As regards the moving of the landing-place of the Eastern Telegraph Company's cable, they are not prepared to recommend the expenditure proposed; but they consider that the Colonial Office should be asked to inquire whether the Eastern Telegraph Company would be prepared to make the change at their own charge. If this cannot be arranged, it should be laid down in the scheme of defence that the change of position will be at once made in the event of the outbreak of war with a naval Power.
12. The Colonial Defence Committee consider that many of the matters raised by the Local Committee in these papers do not properly fall within their functions. Local Committees were formed to draw up complete schemes of defence on the basis of existing resources, so that in the event of war all necessary measures might at once be taken without confusion or omissions.
13. Such a scheme has been prepared at Singapore, but, as pointed out in the Colonial Defence Committee's Memorandum of the 1st February, 1889, modifications are required in certain respects. They recommend that copies of this second Memorandum should be forwarded to the Governor, and that he should be requested to reassemble the Local Committee, with a view to the completion without delay of the scheme of defence, more especially as regards points 1, 2, 6, and 9 of their first Memorandum above referred to.
(Signed) G. S. CLARKE, Secretary,
Colonial Defence Committee.
May 16, 1890.
Page 94
PRINTED AT THE FOREIGN CFFICE BY T. HARRISON.- —17/5/90.
Page 94
65