I would not enter upon this discussion today; it was an oversight... I would confine our admission to comments about Military Contributions.
In some cases, it is desirable, if not necessary, since interdepartmental correspondence discusses matters which, if we do not use it, would worsen.
40248/237.
It is requested that in any further communication on this subject, the above Number may be quoted; and the Letter addressed to--
The Under Secretary of State,
War Office, Pall Mall,
London (S.W.)
Sir,
8.0.
| 22017
le 13 NOV 90
500 B-90
WAR OFFICE, PALL MALL, S.W.
12th November, 1890.
544
Shall now refer our Drafts in concurrence with the department Monday –
327
L'tell hilobes Vans that correspondence is treated
825 14/11
hw15
Sept. 1890
by
infidenteat
dleponth
Draft for conson a shot defiby T. 20032-
- 400,
Laying
that This was ...
for presume they have estir f 4 von In 1891. I will make a
Similar estimate for the year 1892 - in accordance with p
20 Jan. 90.
MS.10/12
not been in this
2/1
Deploy today on 3094
rit d return Ran
52
I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22nd ultimo, covering a copy of a despatch from the Officer administering the Government of Hong Kong, criticising the manner in which the claim of the Imperial Government to an increased Military Contribution had been formulated to the Colony.
As the despatch does not call in question the justice of the demand made upon the Colony for its Military defence, it does not appear to call for any special remarks from this Department. Mr Stanhope would, however, observe that he has been struck, in this, as in some other cases, by the inconvenience likely to arise from a continuance of the practice, which seems to obtain, of forwarding, to Colonial Governments, Copies of interdepartmental correspondence in this country on the subject of Imperial claims.
In this case, it has led the Governor of Hong Kong erroneously to assume that Lord Knutsford's despatch of 20th January last, which conveyed the views of Her Majesty's Government, was written at the dictation of this Department.
The Under Secretary of State
Departmental
Colonial Office.