13129.
No. 675.
(STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.)
QUEEN'S ADVOCATE to FOREIGN OFFICE.
MY LORD,
Temple, December 5, 1870. I AM honoured with your Lordship's commands, signified in Mr. Hammond's letter of the 2nd instant, stating that he was directed to transmit to me the accom- panying letter from the Colonial Office, enclosing a copy of a Despatch from Sir Henry Ord, the Governor of Singapore, forwarding a correspondence between the French Consul in that Colony and himself, respecting the Governor's refusal to permit the French corvette "D'Assas" to take in a supply of coals at that port on her journey to Pondicherry from Saigon, and Mr. Hammond was pleased to request that I would furnish your Lordship with my opinion, whether the construction put by, the Governor upon the third rule, laid down in the letter to the Admiralty and other departments of the 19th July last, was correct, and whether his conduct in this matter may properly be approved.
In obedience to your Lordship's commands, I have the honour to
Report
That the answer given by the Governor of Singapore to the question submitted to him by the French Consul at that port may be properly approved by your Lordship. At the same time the Governor should be informed that, although your Lordship approves the discouragement which he gave to a contingent abuse of the privilege of coaling allowed to belligerent vessels by your Lordship's circular, it is not your in- tention that a supply of coals under the limitation prescribed by that circular should be denied to belligerent vessels which may come into the port of Singapore bona fide in want of coals to enable them to keep the sea.
The Earl Granville, K.G.
&c. &o. &o.
I have, &c. (Signed)
TRAVERS TWISS.
16278-796. 35.---5/86.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
mwimmimC.O. 885
11 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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