PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
T།།TTTcO. 882
سائي
290
The most convenient course to adopt would, in our opinion, be for the Crown Agents for the Colonies to be made parties to that agreement on behalf of the Colonial Government.
It may, however, be contended by the Company that the execution by the Crown Agents of this agreement would not be within their ordinary powers as com- mercial and financial agents of the Government of the Straits Settlements. As the Governor considered himself empowered to agree on behalf of his Government with the Company (as
evidenced by his despatch numbered 450, of the 31st day of October last),* to refer these disputes to the Court of Arbitration in England for decision, we are of opinion that in order to avoid any question as to the power of the Crown Agents to enter into this Agreement, they should be authorised by the Governor by cable to enter into the Agreement in question on behalf of the Govern- ment of the Straits Settlements.
5377
We have, &c.,
SUTTON, OMMANNEY, AND RENDALL.
No. 316.
THE EARL OF ELGIN to GOVERNOR SIR J. ANDERSON. (Sent 6.15 p.m., February 15, 1906.)
TELEGRAM.
[Copy to Crown Agents, February 21, 1906. L.F.]
Referring to your despatch, No. 450, October 31,* send by telegraph authority to Crown Agents to enter into agreement on behalf of Government for submission of matter to Arbitration Court in London.
5377
No. 317.
COLONIAL OFFICE to MESSRS. SUTTON, OMMANNEY, AND RENDALL. [Copy to Crown Agents, February 21, 1906. L.F.]
GENTLEMEN,
[Answered by No. 318.]
Downing Street, February 17, 1906.
I AM directed by the Earl of Elgin to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of February 14th,† with regard to the proposed agreement of submission by which questions arising on the balance sheet of the Tanjong Pagar Dock Company are to be referred to the Court of Arbitration.
2. I am to enclose a copy of a telegram which has been sent to the Governor of the Straits Settlements.
6058
I am, &c.,
C. P. LUCAS.
291
you that the Crown Agents on the 16th instant received a telegram from Sir John Anderson authorising them to enter into the Agreement in question on behalf of the Government of the Straits Settlements.
The draft of the Agreement we propose should be executed by the Crown Agents will be submitted to you for your approval in the course of a few days.
6577
We have, &c..
SUTTON, OMMANNEY, AND RENDALL.
No. 319.
MESSRS. SUTTON, OMMANNEY, AND RENDALL to COLONIAL OFFICE.
(Received February 24, 1906.)
SIR,
[Answered by No. 322.]
3 and 4, Great Winchester Street, London, E.C.,
Straits Settlements.
Tanjong Pagar Dock Company, Limited.
February 23, 1906.
WITH reference to our letter to you of the 19th instant,* we hand you copy of the draft Agreement of Submission, whereby the questions relative to the Company's balance-sheet for the half-year ending the 30th of June, 1905, are to be referred to the Court of Arbitration, this draft having been drawn by the Company's solicitors and subsequently amended by us in red ink, after consultation with Mr. Balfour Browne, our junior counsel, and Messrs. Deloitte, Plender and Com- pany. As now amended we propose to return the draft to Messrs. Druces and Attlee for their approval, and shall be glad to know that you concur in this course being adopted.
It is necessary, in order that our counsel should be properly instructed, that they should have before them a detailed statement showing the working expenses of the Company and the amount spent on repairs and renewals (particularly as regards the wharves, go-downs, coaling sheds and machinery) for the half-year in question. The balance-sheets of the Company for this period, following the usual form in which the previous balance-sheets of the Company have been prepared, do not indicate the amount of these expenses, it having been the custom of the Company to charge the same to the various departments concerned before arriving at the earnings of the half-year.
Messrs. Deloitte, Plender and Company are unable to afford us any information as to these expenses during this half-year.
In these circumstances we should be obliged if you would cause a telegram to be sent to the Governor requesting him to instruct the Government Auditors to prepare from the books of the Company in Singapore, and forward to you by return mail. the detailed statement mentioned above.
We have, &c.,
SUTTON, OMMANNEY, AND RENDALL.
No. 318.
MESSRS. SUTTON, OMMANNEY, AND RENDALL to COLONIAL OFFICE.
SIR,
(Received February 20, 1906.)
3 and 4, Great Winchester Street, London, E.C., February 19, 1906.
Straits Settlements.
Tanjong Pagar Dock Company, Limited.
In reference to your letter of the 17th instant, § enclosing us copy of a telegram which has been sent to the Governor of the Straits Settlements, we have to inform
§ Nɔ. 317.
• No. 286.
† No. 315.
+ No. 316.
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No. 320.
THE EARL OF ELGIN to GOVERNOR SIR J. ANDERSON. (Sent 6.20 p.m., February 26, 1906.)
TELEGRAM.
[Answered by No. 329.]
Referring to my telegram of February 15,† instruct Government Auditors to prepare from books of Company and forward by earliest opportunity for use of
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• No. 313.
↑ No. 316.
* P
8
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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