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No. 36.
The Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart., to Governor Hennessy, É.M.G.
(Secret and Confidential.)
Sir,
Downing Street, June 23, 1879,
I HAVE had under my consideration your Confidential and Secret despatches of the 24th May, 13th June, and 15th and 16th July, 1878, relative to the defence of Hong Kong, in the first of which you call attention to the possibility of utilizing the Colony as a recruiting ground for raising Chinese regiments for the Queen's service in India or in any part of the world.
you
2. I have now the honour to transmit to you a copy of the accompanying corres
will pondence, which has taken place on the subject of your despatches,t from which perceive that it is proposed to appoint a Local Committee to report as to the possibility of supplementing from European, Malay, and any other material, as well as Chinese, the small Imperial force ordinarily maintained in the Colony, and of turning any and every available and trustworthy local means to account, by orgauizing it so as to make garrison to what is requisite for an effective defence in time of war.
up
the
3. I therefore request that, immediately on the receipt of this despatch, you will appoint & Committee, consisting of three military officers and two civilians, one or both of whom should be officers of the Local Government, and thoroughly conversant with the Chinese and other inhabitants of the Colony, to consider and report as to the practicability of the proposed scheme, in accordance with the request contained in the letter from the War Office to the Colonial Office of the 8th of January last,‡ and if they recommend its adoption, as to the legislative and other measures necessary for carrying it into effect.
You will request General Donovan to name the military members of the proposed
Committee.
4. The question for the consideration of the Committee is, as you will perceive from the enclosed correspondence, to be confined to the enlistment of auxiliary forces for service within Hong Kong, and is not to extend to the question of enlisting forces for service out of the Colony.
5. As soon as you are in possession of the Committee's Report, you should submit it to the General Officer Commanding the troops for his remarks, and you will transmit to me any Memorandum with which he may favour you, and furnish me at the same time with such observations as you may desire to be laid before me.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
M. E. HICKS BEACH.
No. 37.
Colonial Office to War Office.
(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,
Downing Street, June 25, 1879. WITH reference to your Secret and Confidential letter of the 17th instant, § I am directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to request that you will inform Secretary Colonel Stanley that be concurs in the suggested alterations in the draft despatch to the Governor of Hong Kong with reference to the appointment of a Local Committee to consider the question of the enlistment of auxiliary forces to supplement the regular forces of that place, and I am to state that the despatch will be sent by the next mail.
I am,
&c.
R. H. MEADE.
(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,
29
No. 38.
War Office to Colonial Office.
War Office, June 30, 1879. WITH reference to your letters of the 3rd and 19th June, 1879,* I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to state, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that Colonel Lovell, C.B., Commanding Royal Engineers at Halifax, has been directed to proceed to Vancouver Island, and after placing himself in communica- tion with Lieutenant-Colonel Strange R.A., to report upon the defences necessary to place the important harbours of Esquimault and Victoria in an efficient state of permanent defence, and to request that the Dominion Government may be informed
thereof.
I am also to state that Secretary Sir Michael Hicks Beach having directed the attention of the Colonial Defence Committee to the question" of erecting defences at the Port of Nanaimo consequent on a report by the Inspector-General of the Dominion forces, Secretary Colonel Stanley is desirous of taking advantage of Colonel Lovell's visit to Vancouver Island to obtain a report from him as to the means that should be taken for the defence of that port, if at any time hereafter such a measure should become necessary.
Colonel Stanley would be glad if the Dominion Government concurred in the view of the advisableness of such a report being obtained, and would similarly direct Lieutenant Colonel Strange, R.A., Inspector of Artillery to the Dominion, to examine the Port of Nanaimo in company with Colonel Lovell, and report thereon for their informa- tion.
I have, &c. (Signed)
(Secret and Confidential.)
て
No. 39.
Colonial Office to War Office.
RALPH (THOMPSON.
Sir,
Downing Street, June 30, 1879.
you will I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to request that state to Secretary Colonel Stanley that he concurs in the suggestion contained in your letter of the 18th of April last† with regard to the appointment of a Local Committee to consider and report on the question of the permanent defences of the Cape of Good Hope.
2. I am however to suggest, for the consideration of Colonel Stanley, whether it would not be desirable, before communicating with Sir Bartle Frere on the subject, to consult the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury with reference to the apportionment of the cost in respect of such defences, in order that Her Majesty's Government may not be committed without the consent of the Treasury to the principle of apportionment of expenditure recommended by the Colonial Defence Committee in their Report of the 7th June, 1878,‡ which, with their other Reports, you suggest should be sent to the Colony, and by which the Local Committee would no doubt be guided in any recommendations they might make with respect to the permanent defences.
I am, &c.
No. 40.
(Signed)
R. H. MEADE.
(Signed)
* Nos. 285, 257, 308, and 309 of Miscellaneous, No. 35 E, February 1879.
† Nos. 204, 238, 264, 312▲, 323, 346, and 349, of Miscellaneous, No. 3b E, February 1879; Nos. 3, 11, and 22 of this Paper.
+ No. 3.
No. 35.
The Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart., to the Marquis of Lorne, K.G. (Secret.) My Lord,
Downing Street, July 3, 1879.
WITH reference to your Lordship's Secret despatch of the 19th May last,§ on the subject of the permanent defences of Esquimalt and Victoria, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Government, a copy of a letter from the War Office, stating that Colonel Lovell, C.B., commanding Royal Engineers at Halifax, has been directed to proceed to Vancouver Island, and after placing himself in communication
• No. 32 and 34.
+ No. 19.
§ No. 33.
No. 162 of Miscellaneous, No. 35 E, February 1879.
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