Colonial Office,
23rd January 1905.
511
My dear Nathan,
The difference between the first class fares by mail steamer and intermediate steamer to Hongkong is £15 - a substantial difference in the cost of sending out cadets. Further, if we send cadets first class by mail steamer, we think we ought to do so for other officers who are not cadets but of equal social standing. On the whole, we think the best solution is to instruct the Crown Agents that the cadets are always to be sent first class by intermediate steamers and not to be given the option of going second class by mail steamers, and the Crown Agents are being instructed accordingly.
As regards the "Eastern Civil Service" and putting "E.C.S." after the names of its members, we do not think that the Government should make any move at the present time. We can wait to see whether any practice of the kind grows up.
Yours sincerely,
(Signed) C.P. Lucas.