J
TA
A POTIC
[Cope, desaf. in
Dean
12347 WP
Downing Street,
19th July, 1892.
407
Sir,
COMISSIONER,
With further reference to your despatch No.38
of the 6th of November last, I have the honour to
acquaint you that I have ascertained that the view held
by the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury as regards
the incidence of the charge of imprisoning a criminal
convicted in a Court of the Western Pacific High
Commission of an offence committed beyond the jurisdiction of the Governor of Fiji is in favour of
such charge being determined as far as practicable, by the place of the Convict's birth or last domicile. Their Lordships consider that if this place be the United Kingdom or outside the British Empire,
or is uncertain, this charge should fall upon Imperial
funds and should be calculated on the actual cost of
guarding, lodging and maintaining the prisoner, but that if the criminal should be by birth or domicile
a British Colonial subject, the Colony to which he belongs should pay for him.
In any case therefore when there seems good
evidence that a demand could be made on one of His
Majesty's Colonies or on the Government of India for the support of a prisoner on the principles above laid down, I should be glad to be supplied with such evidence with a view to considering whether a claim should be made upon the Colony concerned or on the Government of
India
SIR JOHN B. THURSTON, K.C.H.G.
etc.
etc.
etc.
1