46
a frank and open manner. Opinions may of course differ, and occasions will no doubt arise when officials in a Crown Colony may, through the necessity of their position, be arrayed on one side, while the nou-officials will be found on the other. But in Hong Kong this contingency rarely happens, and is still less likely to do so, if the full and clear intention of Government is submitted to the unofficial members, instead of an aspect of the case, which, however unintentionally, may distort the true object of the
measure.
CONTRIBUTION.
47
No. 33.
Treasury to War Office.
197
F. FLEMING.
No. 31.
CONTRIBUTION.
Colonial Office to War Office.
Downing Street,
Sir,
40248 239
40248. 235
25th October, 1890. In reply to your letter
of the 22nd instant, respecting the Hong Kong Military Contribution, I am directed by Lord Knutsford to request you to refer Mr. Secretary Stanhope to the letter from this department of the same date, enclosing copy of a despatch from the Officer Administering the Govern- ment of Hong Kong on the subject.
I am to add that Mr. Stanhope is correct in presuming that the contribu- tion of 40,0001. will be duly paid for the current calendar year.
JOHN BRAMSTON.
Sir,
Treasury Chambers,
18th November, 1890.
40248.
respecting 237
40248
245
In reply to Mr. De la Bère's letter of the 12th instant the Hong Kong Military Contribution, the Lords Commissioners of Majesty's Treasury desire me to say, for the information of Mr. Secretary Stanhope, that they have not seen the criticisms by the Officer Administering the Government of Hong Kong, referred to in Sir R. Thompson's letter to the Colonial Office of 12th instant, but that, so far as they are in a position to judge, they concur in the terms of that letter regarding the inexpediency in many cases of communi- cating inter-departmental correspondence to Colonial Governments.
FRANK MOWATT,
No. 34.
CONTRIBUTION.
Colonial Office to War Office.
Downing Street,
237
CONTRIBUTION,
Sir,
No. 32.
War Office to Colonial Office.
War Office,
I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to acknowledge the
12th November, 1890. receipt of your letter of the 22nd ultimo,* covering a copy of a despatcht 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 similar cases, with the inconvenience likely to arise from a continuance of the practice which seems to obtain of forwarding to Colonial Governments copies of inter-departmental 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.
Departmental correspondence on such subjects is frequently of a contro- versial character, and Mr. Stanhope considers that its promulgation to Colonial Governments cannot but weaken the force of the claims it refers to, by giving the Colonies concerned grounds to suppose that the Colonial Office does not eoncur in the justice of the claims it formulates on behalf of the Government, while at the same time it furnishes them with arguments against those claims which have already been fully discussed and disposed of by Her Majesty's Government.
RALPH THOMPSON.
[Copy sent to Treasury same date.]
Sir,
2
19th November, 1890. 40248 In reply to your letter,* No. of the 12th instant, I am directed by
237 Lord Knutsford to intimate that he recognises the possible inconvenience, to which Mr. Secretary Stanhope draws attention, that might arise if it were the practice to forward to Colonial Governments copies of inter-departmental correspondence on the subject of Military Contributions. I am to add that the Governor of Hong Kong has accordingly been instructed to consider as confidential the War Office letter, No. of which a copy was communi-
cated to him.
40248 209
ROBERT G. W. HERBERT.
No. 35.
CONTRIBUTION.
War Office to Colonial Office.
War Office,
Sir,
12th February, 1891. With reference to your lettert of the 25th October last, in which it is stated that "Mr. Stanhope is correct in presuming that the contribution of 40,0001. will be duly paid in the current calendar year," I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to transmit herewith the copy of a telegram addressed on the 10th instant to the General Officer Commanding at Hong Kong, together with a copy of his telegraphic reply of the same date.
From such reply it appears that the increased contribution has not yet been paid; and as any deficiency in this item would seriously affect the Army Account for the current financial year, which expires on the 31st March next, I am to request that you will be good enough to ascertain when the payment of the difference between the contribution at the old and new rates for the calendar year 1890 is to be effected, and whether the contribution for the
No. 30.
† No. 327 of 10th September, 1890.
Enclosure in No. 18.
(138)
* No. 32.
† No. 31.
246
266