PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
C.O
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•885
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17 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
24163
SIR,
14
No. 8.
BOARD OF TRADE to COLONIAL OFFICE.
(Received July 5, 1906.)
[Answered by No. 9.]
Board of Trade (Commercial Department),
7, Whitehall Gardens, London, S.W.,
July 4, 1906.
I AM directed by the Board of Trade to refer to previous correspondence on the subject of the Imperial Institute, and especially to the letters from this Depart- ment of 3rd April and 29th May,* enclosing copy of the letter giving notice to Professor Dunstan, and inviting the Colonial Office to take a greater share in the management of the Institute, and also to the Treasury letter to the Colonial Office,† of which this Department has received copy.
The Board desire me to state that it is necessary for them to come forthwith to a decision as to the carrying on of the Imperial Institute from October 1st next, in view of the early date on which Parliament will adjourn for the holidays, and also on account of a pledge given to the Advisory Committee of the Imperial Institute to call them together shortly to consider the situation.
The Board are not aware how far the Colonial Office will think it well to press the Treasury for an increase in the promised grant of £700 per annum, but they are fully prepared to support any action that the Colonial Office should see fit to take in this direction. But apart from the question of the increased grant, the Board are anxious to know whether they may count on a revenue from October 1st next of at least £2,000 per annum, that is to say, £1,300 from the Colonies to supple- ment the £700 promised conditionally by the Treasury, leaving open the question of how far this grant can be ultimately increased.
Until the Board are informed on this point they are not in a position to re- engage the Director-who has received notice or to reassure the other members of the staff that their position is secure, and thus prevent them making arrangements for employment elsewhere. One case of a valuable scientific expert accepting other work in consequence of the uncertainty of his future has already been brought to their notice, and other cases will no doubt arise shortly.
Should the Colonial Office desire to avail themselves of the suggestion made in the Board's letter of the 29th May, it seems desirable that the proposed Committee to consider details should get to work forthwith, and, in this event, the Board would naturally wish to act in consultation with the Colonial Office in regard to the question of arrangements in connection with the staff.
The Board would, consequently, be glad if the Colonial Office could give them an answer to this letter and to their letter of the 29th May‡ at the earliest possible date, and, if possible, during the course of the present week.
24163
SIR,
No. 9.
I have, &c.,
H. LLEWELLYN SMITH.
COLONIAL OFFICE to BOARD OF TRADE.
Downing Street, July 6, 1906.
I AM directed by the Earl of Elgin to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 4th instant§ asking whether the Board can count upon a revenue of £2,000 per annum from the 1st of October next to replace the sum of equal amount which up to the end of 1905 was contributed by the Board of Management of the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851.
2. The £2,000 would, it is contemplated, be contributed in the proportions of £700 by the Lords of the Treasury, as provisionally promised by their Lordships in their letter of the 25th of June, † a copy of which is enclosed, and £1,300 by the
‡ No. 5.
§ No. 8.
Nos. 4 and 5.
† No. 7.
15
Colonies and India. What the Board not unnaturally wish to ascertain is whether the Secretary of State can guarantee that this sum of £1,300 will be forthcoming on the 1st of October.
3. It is not possible for Lord Elgin to give a definite pledge on the subject, but his Lordship proposes to address the Colonies and Protectorates without delay on the whole position in a Circular despatch, and to invite the larger contributions which have been contemplated in the previous correspondence, and he is disposed to ask that such contributions may be paid as from the 1st of October, in order to meet the wishes of the Board. If, therefore, the Board can make arrangements to carry on the present work of the Institute beyond the 1st of October, in all proba- bility the expenditure will be recouped, but it is not possible for Lord Elgin to bind the Colonies until they have been consulted.
4. Lord Elgin agrees that the subject of your letter of the 29th of May,* being the future management of the Imperial Institute, on the assumption that the Colonial contributions will be increased and that the increase should be accompanied by a corresponding increase of Colonial Office control, may with advantage be referred to a small committee representing the two departments, and his Lordship has nominated Mr. Lucas to represent this Office. His Lordship would suggest that Mr. Lucas and a representative of the Board of Trade should confer and make a joint report.
Lord Elgin is inclined to think that it may be well to invite the India Office to appoint a representative on this committee; and his Lordship would suggest to the Board that the Managers.of the Institute might also be added to the committee, thus giving to the Colonial Office the valuable advice of Sir Cecil Clementi Smith.
24163
SIR,
No. 10.
I am, &c.,
H. BERTRAM COX.
COLONIAL OFFICE to TREASURY.
[Answered by No. 12.]
Downing Street, July 27, 1906. WITH reference to your letter of the 25th of Junet on the subject of the provision to be made for the work of the Scientific and Technical Department of the Imperial Institute, I am directed by the Earl of Elgin to enclose a copy of a circular despatch‡ which is being addressed to the Crown Colonies and Protectorates on the subject.
2. Their Lordships stated in the lettert under reply that to meet the imme- diate deficit of £2,000, they would be prepared to find from Imperial funds the sum of £700, being about one-third of the required minimum, provided that the remaining two-thirds, or £1,300, were contributed by the Colonies and India.
3. It will be seen that for the three or five years for which their Lordships were prepared to pledge themselves, the Crown Colonies and Protectorates are being asked to contribute in all a sum of £3,000, and they are being told that applica- tion will be made to the Treasury for a contribution as against this amount of £1,500, which would be, as before, in the proportion of one-third to two-thirds. This contribution, it will be seen, would be a maximum, not necessarily to be paid in full, and Lord Elgin ventures to think that, in view of the great importance to the United Kingdom, of the trade of the Crown Colonies and Protectorates, it will be a hardly adequate contribution, even when allowance is made for the fact that some of the contributing Protectorates receive Imperial grants-in-aid.
4. The question has become a very urgent one, and Lord Elgin trusts that their Lordships will be good enough to consent to a conditional grant at the rate of £1,500 per annum from the 1st of October next.
• Na J.
† No 7.
I am, &c.,
C. P. LUCAS.
No. 11.
15
ard not unnaturally wish to ascertain is whether tee that this sum of £1,300 will be forthcoming
1 Elgin to give a definite pledge on the subject, ess the Colonies and Protectorates without delay despatch, and to invite the larger contributions the previous correspondence, and he is disposed y be paid as from the 1st of October, in order If, therefore, the Board can make arrangements Institute beyond the 1st of October, in all proba- ped, but it is not possible for Lord Elgin to bind onsulted.
subject of your letter of the 29th of May,* being rial Institute, on the assumption that the Colonial d that the increase should be accompanied by a Office control, may with advantage be referred the two departments, and his Lordship has
t this Office. His Lordship would suggest that the Board of Trade should confer and make a
that it may be well to invite the India Office to committee; and his Lordship would suggest to › Institute might also be added to the committee,
e valuable advice of Sir Cecil Clementi Smith.
I am,
&c.,
H. BERTRAM COX.
No. 10.
OFFICE to TREASURY.
swered by No. 12.]
Downing Street, July 27, 1906. ter of the 25th of Junet on the subject of the of the Scientific and Technical Department of ted by the Earl of Elgin to enclose a copy of a ddressed to the Crown Colonies and Protectorates
the letterf under reply that to meet the imme-
be prepared to find from Imperial funds the sum e required minimum, provided that the remaining uted by the Colonies and India.
he three or five years for which their Lordships
ves, the Crown Colonies and Protectorates are m of £3,000, and they are being told that applica-
y for a contribution as against this amount of e, in the proportion of one-third to two-thirds. would be a maximum, not necessarily to be paid
> think that, in view of the great importance to of the Crown Colonies and Protectorates, it will even when allowance is made for the fact that tes receive Imperial grants-in-aid.
a very urgent one, and Lord Elgin trusts that
gh to consent to a conditional grant at the rate of October next.
No. 7.
I am, &c.,
C. P. LUCAS.
No. 11.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O-885
17 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO