Mr MacDougall,
23
2BEN
Herewith drafts of proposed Proclamations. I have left these unnumbered as we cannot clearly foresee the order in which it will be desirable to issue them.
There will probably have to be a good deal of revision when the titles of the various officers of the military administration are finally settled.
I have left open the description of the signatory as we do not know who will be commanding the Forces. If the commander is not British,I should say that the fewer the Proclamations issued over his signature the better for British prestige.
54115/8/1/45
military administration.
8/1/451) Froclamation of martial law and the establishment of a 64145/8/2/45 (2) Division of the Colony into Administrative Districts. 54146/8/3/45 3 Special Offences, during the period of military administration 54145/8/4/45 (4) Military Courts (Establishment. Criminal jurisdiction).
GAIUS/8/4/05 (5)
54145/8/4145 (6)
5500645
(Flaces of holding sittings).
55006 45 (7) Opium Suppression. 841451816/45 (8) Interpretation.
54145/8/7/45 (9) Moratorium.
Civil jurisdiction).
☛
5414504510) Establishment of Gazette.
/7/45
54145/819/45 11 Custodian of Froperty. (also notes for guidance and certain rules).
54145/9/14/45 12
54145/8/13/45+ (13
Leaseholds.
Electricity Supply.
54145/14/45 (14) Emergency Powers (Defence). 54145/8/15/45 (15) Emergency Rates. 54145/8/16/15+ (16) Crown Rents.
Though the proclamations relating to Electricity Supply, Leaseholds, Emergency Rates and Crown Rents (and the draft now under consideration relating to the temporary restriction of share transactions) deal with matters whic,because they affect the public at large, seem of such importance as to merit the wide publicity of proclamations, and though they are forced upon us by circumstances arising out of the enemy occupation,I am inclined to doubt whether these matters are strictly appropriate for proclamations made by a military administration. They right perhaps more fittingly be dealt with by way of regulations made by the C.C.A.0. under the Emergency Powers Froclamation. This is a matter on which the advice of the Legal Adviser to the Colonial Office would be particularly appreciated.
10%
Mutagenes
30.5.45.