از
Enclosure!.
Lo.
3 x 4.
CONFIDENTIAL.
Sir,
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
HONGKONG, 11th. March, 1915.
83
I have the honour to inform you that I recent-
-ly discussed with the General Officer Commanding the relationship of the Governor to the Volunteer Corps which as you are aware was called out for actual Military Service by a Proclamation of the 5th. of August last, copy of which is enclosed for convenience of
reference.
2.
The view which Major-General Kelly holds is
explained in the enclosed copy of a letter from him on the subject. My view is amplified and endorsed by the accompanying minutes by the Attorney-General. It was agreed to submit the point at issue
for your decision.
3.
It is of course inconceivable that in the
event of actual invasion of the Colony or of danger of a hostile attack upon it, any Governor would do otherwise than leave to the Officer Commanding the Troops unfettered control of the Volunteer
Corps.
But under such circumstances as have existed
in the Colony since the 5th. of August, I am of opinion that it is desirable that the Governor should have a controlling voice in the disposition and training of the Volunteer Corps, which is composed entirely of unleisured men belonging to the Civil Service and the Mercantile, Professional and Industrial Community, for an over-
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
LEWIS HARCOURT, M.P.,
&c.,
&C..
&0...
-zealous