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No 138
CEYLON.
The following paragraph which occurs in the Owen Committee's Report of the 17th October. 1906-
2
The completion of the breakwater, the addition of the largest graving dock between Malta and Hong Kong on the direct route to the Far East, and the abandonment of Trincomalee as a defended naval base, have recently enhanced the value of this port (Colombo) in war
Also to the following paragraph in the Colonial Defence Committee's memo- randum of the 17th January, 1907-
Ceylon lies at the point of convergence of all the great trade routes in Eastern seas Its principal port, Colombo, is an important coaling station and port of call for the mercantile marine, and is also used as a coaling station for His Majesty's ships."
3 I would submit that these two paragraphs taken together are an acknow- ledgment on the part of His Majesty's Government that Colombo has now taken the position of Trincomalee as a naval base, and that Trincomalee has only been abandoned on the score of economy because naval requirements can be better met at Colombo Consequently, independently of other considerations to which I have referred in my despatch above alluded to, it is surely not only illogical but actually inequitable for the Army Council to attempt to throw upon the Colony the additional contribution which is now suggested.
4 The accomplishment of such a suggestion could only be carried through the Legislative Council vi et armis, a form of procedure which would be generally regrettable, and distinctly distasteful to the Official Members,
5. At the same time. I feel sure that if a British regiment could be again stationed in Ceylon, the additional expenditure under the 75 per cent. contribution would be cheerfully voted I understand that His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught. in his recent Inspection Report on Ceylon, urged in the strongest manner that a British battalion should be again stationed here, and that full advan- tage should be taken of the magnificent hill station which the island possesses in Diyatalawa
6. As a matter of economy, and. at the same time. increased efficiency, I have been advised that it would be a sound proposition if Kandy and Nuwara Eliya were entirely given up as garrison stations, and if the bulk of the garrison were stationed in times of peace at Diyatalawa, which enjoys a splendid climate, and which is one of the best training grounds in the Empire. This, I understand, was the opinion of His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught when inspecting at this station.
SIR.
WAR OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE
(Received 21 July, 1908.)
[Answered by No. 139,]
War Office, London, S. W., 20th July, 1908. WITH reference to your letter of 9th November, 1907, No. 38419/07,* on the subject of the Ceylon military contribution, I am commanded by the Army Council to enquire whether the Governor's observations on the proposal that the contri- bution shall be based on the full cost of the garrison have yet been received.
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SIR,
No. 139. CEYLON.
I am, &c.,
R. H. BRADE.
COLONIAL OFFICE to WAR OFFICE.
[Anstrered by No. 166.]
Downing Street, 6 August, 1908. I AM directed by the Secretary of State to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 20th of July, and to transmit to you, to be laid before the Army Council, the accompanying copies of two despatchest from the Governor of Ceylon with regard to the proposal that the maximum of the military contribution of that Colony should be the total cost of the garrison.
2. Lord Crewe will await the receipt of the observations of the Army Council before coming to any definite conclusion on the question, but he desires me to say that the Governor appears to him to give strong reasons for adhering to the arrange- ment under which the Ceylon contribution was not to exceed three-quarters of the total cost of the garrison. Moreover, the way in which the three-quarters limit was arrived at was not made public in Ceylon, and the proposal that the Colonial Government should defray the whole cost can hardly fail to be regarded in the island as nearly akin to a breach of faith, and would probably result in a renewal of the agitation against the existing military contribution. His Lordship would therefore be glad to learn that the Army Council were willing not to press the proposal.
I have, &c.,
HENRY MCCALLUM,
Governor.
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I am, &c.,
H. BERTRAM COX.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
25256
(No. 394.)
MY LORD,
No. 137
CEYLON.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 13 July, 1908.)
The Queen's House, Colombo, Ceylon,
24th June, 1908.
WITH reference to your Lordship's despatch, No. 271, of the 29th May* inviting my attention to despatch, No. 561, of 9th November, 1907,† with regard to the military contribution payable by the Ceylon Government, I have the honour to refer your Lordship to my despatch, No. 290, of 23rd May, 1908.‡
I have, &c.,
HENRY MCCALLUM,
Governor, &c.
SIR,
No. 140.
STRAITS SETTLEMENTS. TREASURY to COLONIAL OFFICE.
(Received August 10, 1908.)
Treasury Chambers, 8 August, 1908. THE Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury have had under their serious consideration Mr. Antrobus's letter of the 25th March last (43644/1907), § and its enclosures respecting the military contribution paid by the Straits Settle- ments; and they have also had the advantage of hearing the views of the Army Council on the same subject.
My Lords understand that the Secretary of State has also been put in possession of those views, with which they now desire to associate themselves in the fullest degree.
Lord Crewe will not have overlooked the fact that, whereas the principle under- lying the institution of the Colonial military contribution is that the Colony should
• Reminder.
† No. 126.
‡ No. 135.
• No. 127.
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↑ No. 138.
‡ Nos. 135 and 136.
No. 180.
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C.O. 882
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