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the Defence Scheme, which will now be prepared, a specific reference should be made under the heading " Action to be taken by Staff and Departments to the notification that will be sent to the Governor, instructing him to put the Defence Scheme partially or wholly into force. The notification will be in the form communicated in Lord Knutsford's Circular despatch, dated the 2nd July, 1891, and it is of vital importance that the simple code laid down in the Circular should be understood and acted on immediately on its receipt.
The Defence Scheme should also lay down the action to be taken on receipt of the above notification, in accordance with clause 2, section 189 of the Army Act, with regard to making the forces in the Colony temporarily subject to the Army Act as if they were on active service.
6. Chapter VI of the revised Defence Scheme should embody the action to be taken to give effect to the Secret Order in Council of the 26th October, 1896, which it is understood will shortly be communicated to the Governor, and which confers on him special powers for the regulation of the civil population and the utilization of private property in case of war. M. NATHAN, Secretary,
Colonial Defence Committee.
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February 6, 1897.
PRINTED AT THE FOREIGN OFFICE BY J. W. HARRISON,—9/2/97.
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Page
D.M. I (For record)
CIL
225.
2hThin Document is the Property of Her Britannic Majesty's Government√1 of 290
Printed for the use of the Colonial Office. February 16, 1897.
SECRET.
No. 156 R.
C.O.
ST. LUCIA.
Nos. 721, 722, and 728. Secret.
INTEL. DIV. W.O. SECTION B.
RECD...
22.2
182.7...
SCHEDULE NUMBER. 2203/
ST. LUCIA.
Defence Scheme revised to May 1896.
4
Remarks by the Colonial Defence Committee.
Covering Despatches of Governor and Administrator.
Page 3.—In paragraphs 4 (2) and 4 (3) of the covering despatch of the Governor of the Windward Islands he asks for copies of Ordinances and Regulations that have been drafted at other fortified stations for dealing with civil populations and utilizing private property in time of war or national emergency.
The Colonial Defence Committee understand that the Secret Order in Council of the 26th October, 1896, will shortly be communicated to the Governor. It will be found to confer wide powers of the required nature on him, or on the Administrator of St. Lucia as his representative. The action to be taken to give effect to the Order should be embodied in the final Chapter of the next revision of the Defence Scheme.
2. Pages 3 and 4, paragraphs 6 to 22.-In these paragraphs the Governor treats at length the proposals of the Local Defence Committee (p. 8, paragraph 4, and p. 127, 2nd paragraph) that-
(i.) In war time the civil administration of the island should pass under the control of the General Officer Commanding at St. Lucia.
(ii.) The General Officer Commanding at St. Lucia, when the transfer of the troops from Barbados takes place, should be permanent Governor of the island, as well as Commander-in-chief.
The Governor dissents from both these proposals, which have on former occasions been fully considered by Her Majesty's Government and negatived. Under these circumstances, the Colonial Defence Committee think it undesirable to enter into any further discussion on the matter.
3. Page 5, paragraphs 22 and 23.--The proposal of the Governor that the taxpayers of St. Lucia should be relieved of the burden of the charges incurred on account of the harbour works, in order that the loyalty and co-operation of a contented population may be secured, is a matter for the consideration of the Colonial Office.
Covering Letter of President, Local Defence Committee.
4. Page 8, paragraph 3.-The Colonial Defence Committee, in paragraph 13 of their Remarks, dated the 30th May, 1894, on the Defence Scheme revised
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