}
315
No. 20,676.
Annex 2.
Telegram.
Governor Sir. F. A. Swettenham to Mr. Chamberlain.
(Received, Colonial Office, 9.20 a.m. 5th June 1903. Small diameter very desirable to easily distinguish coin from British and Mexican dollars when counting as every one will wish to keep them separate; also if coin slightly thicker would probably ring differently.
practicable to reduce the diameter of the new Straits dollar by one- sixteenth. This will give a higher relief, and, so far as can be done without creating difficulty in striking the coin, as high a relief as possible will be given. The work of preparing the matrices will be proceeded with as rapidly as possible.
I am, &c.,
The Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office.
WILLIAM ELLISON MACCARTNEY.
Annex 3.
No. 20,676. (Pressing). Sir,
Colonial Office, Downing Street,
5th June 1903.
With reference to the letter from this Office of the 30th ultimo,
I am directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain to transmit to you copies
* Governor, telegram, 4th June. Governor, telegram, 5th June.
new Straits dollar.
Enclosure No. 11.
India Office to Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, and Chartered Bank of India, Australia, and China.
F. 2758.
Sir,
of two telegrams* from Governor of the Straits Settle- ments regarding the design for the
the
2. The Governor has been informed that it is now too late to alter the design of the coin, but Mr. Chamberlain would be glad if it were found practicable to reduce the diameter of the coin by one sixteenth, as desired by Sir F. Swettenham.
3. I am also to ask that the design of the coin may be in as high relief as possible.
Subject to the requests coutained in this letter, it is desired that the work of preparing the matrices may be continued with all expedition.
I am, &c.,
The Deputy Master of the Mint.
No. 21,252.
Sir,
Enclosure No. 10.
Colonial Office to India Office.
C. P. LUCAS,
Colonial Office, Downing Street,
13th June 1903.
I am directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain to acknowledge the receipt of
your letter F. 3,786 of the 9th instant, and to forward to you, for the information of Lord George Hamilton, a copy of a letter which has been received from the Deputy Master of the Mint reporting that the diameter of the new Straits dollar will be reduced by one-sixteenth.
I am, &c.,
The Under Secretary of State
for India.
Annex.
H. BERTRAM COX.
India Office, 28th May 1903.
Referring to the agreement made on the 14th December 1894 between the Secretary of State in Council of India, the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, and the Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China, for the coinage of British dollars at the Indian mints, I am directed to inform you that the Government of India have represented to the Secretary of State that the seigniorage of one per cent. provided for in that agreement has proved to be inadequate under present conditions, and that 2 per cent. would be a fair and reasonable rate to charge in the future.
Moreover, they anticipate that the re-coinage of rupees issued in the years 1840 to 1862, which are being steadily withdrawn from circu- lation, will provide work for the mints for some years to come, and that they will from time to time have to undertake fresh coinage from bullion in order to maintain the volume of the rupce currency; and they therefore desire further to modify the agreement so as to provide explicitly that the coinage of rupees shall, whenever necessary, have precedence over the coinage of British dollars.
Should it be decided, in accordance with the recommendation of the Straits Settlements Currency Committee, to issue a special dollar for use in that Colony, it is probable that the new coin will be manufactured at the Indian mints. In that case priority will be given to the Straits dollar as well as to the rupee, over the British dollar.
I am accordingly instructed to enquire whether the (1) Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, (2) Chartered Bank of India, Australia, and China, desires to enter into a new agreement on the above terms, with the option of termination by either party on three mouths' notice; and as a first step thereto I am to give notice, on the part of the Secretary of State in Council of India, of the termination of the agreement dated the 14th December 1894, at six months from 10th of June.
I have, &c.,
The Manager,
Hong Kong and Shangbai Banking
Corporation.
The Manager,
Chartered Bank of India, Australia,
and China.
A. GODLEY.
Sir,
Royal Mint to Colonial Office.
Royal Mint,
9th June 1903.
I am directed by the Master of the Mint to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. Lucas' letter of the 5th instaut, and to say that it will be