to be returned by them with this
when
a
decision will no doubt be arrived.
A. F
ous 7/8
9
ALL COMMUNICATIONS
TO BE ADDRESSED TO THE CROWN AGENTS FOR THE COLONIES
apy
20530
Page 4 AUG 19
142
Captain Clauson
C. J. Cm
We need not bring this again where the
If agree we say condition to
be recommending the Grant & adapt the Crown Agents supportion 1 and the peas
time pr
3 at a
Sir E. Wingfield
Concurson here?
I quite agree,
Left 4
but would leave to the discretion of Governor, with advice of G.O.C., the number of guns to be sent home at once —
(there are 244 Imperial machine guns at the station of which at last half are on travelling carriages.)
Je Clauson
5/9/99
& A letter to hest ge support
G-7
alme
alre
DOWNING STREET, LONDON.
3rd August 1899,
Hong Kong Volunteers Regn 31.304.
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 20th of July No.17045/99, inquiring as to the probable cost of converting the .45 Maxim guns now in the possession of the Hong Kong Volunteers to .303 calibre.
As it appeared to us very doubtful whether the arrangement proposed by the Colonial Government—i.e. to obtain the necessary parts from Messrs Vickers, Sons & Maxim, and convert the guns in the Colony was either economical or indeed practicable, we have consulted the War Office on the subject and I enclose a copy of the reply we have received,
from which it will be seen that the work cannot be done in Hong Kong and that the cost of it, if done in England, would be £27 per gun.
In these circumstances we would strongly recommend that the guns should be returned to England three or four at a time if they cannot all be spared at once, for conversion under the supervision of the War Department.
I have the honour to be,
Under Secretary of State,
&c. &c. &c.
Sir,
Your Obedient Servant,
Colonial Office.
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