(No. 12/31.)
118
Enclosure 2 in No. 175.
SIR,
I HAVE the honour to inform you that the Secretary of State has asked me to- furnish him with a report in regard to a Convention signed in London on May 19th,. 1900, for the preservation of wild animals, birds, and fish in Africa, in so far as that Convention would affect the South African Colonies and territories in the event of it being decided that they or any of them should adhere to the agreement.
High Commissioner's Office, Johannesburg, 1 August, 1907.
2. It appears that, before ratifying this Convention, the Portuguese Govern- ment desire to be informed whether the provisions of the Convention have been extended to all the South African Possessions and Colonies contiguous to the zone defined in Article I.
3. If you will refer to Blue Book [Cd. 3189] (in which is also printed a copy of the Convention) you will find that on July 21st, 1900, the Secretary of State made inquiry of the Governors of Cape Colony and Natal whether the Governments of those Colonies would be willing to adhere to the Convention, and that Sir Alfred Milner and Sir Walter Hely-Hutchinson were both able to return to Mr. Chamberlain an affirmative answer.
4. In view of the grant of self-government to the Transvaal it has now become desirable that a similar inquiry should be made in regard to that Colony also. I have accordingly been requested by Lord Elgin to ascertain whether your Ministers are prepared on the part of the Transvaal to adhere to the Convention.
5. As some considerable time had elapsed since the Convention was last before the Cape and Natal Governments, it seemed proper that I should make sure that the views expressed by those Governments in 1900 were entertained by them to-day. I have made the requisite inquiries and enclose copies of the replies I have received.
Governor, Cape, No. 135, 12/4/07. Governor, Natal, No. 122, 23/3/07.
6. I should now be glad to
to adopt in this matter.
learn what attitude your Ministers are prepared
7. In bringing the subject to Ministers' notice, I would ask you to draw their particular attention to the provisions of paragraph 10 of Article II. of the Conven- tion, respecting the imposition of export duties
In this connection presume they will consider the proposal made by Natal for an Inter-Colonial Conference.
8. In conclusion, I would observe, with reference to the stipulation contained in Cape Ministers' Minute of October 31st, 1900, that the Secretary of State is not yet in a position to say what action the other signatory Powers propose to take in this regard.
His Excellency
30915
The Deputy Governor
of the Transvaal.
I have, &c.,
SELBORNE,
High Commissioner.
Name and Date.
119
DESCRIPTION OF ENCLOSURE.
Mr. Basil Cave (Zanzibar), No. 171, August 1, 1907
(No. 171.)
SIR,
Subject.
Veterinary Officers.
Enclosure in No. 176.
Zanzibar, August 1, 1907. I HAVE been in consultation with the Zanzibar Government with respect to your despatch, No. 48, of the 15th March last, in which I was instructed to ascertain whether there was any wish on their part to participate in the arrangements sug gested by the Secretary of State for the Colonies with a view to the selection of qualified veterinary officers for service in the various Crown Colonies and Protec- torates, and also whether any useful purpose would be served by the extension to Zanzibar of the investigations which were shortly to be conducted by a veterinary bacteriologist in British East Africa.
The newly-created post of Veterinary Officer to the Zanzibar Government was filled up in the month of January last by the appointment of Mr. D. F. Dubash, a graduate of the Bombay Veterinary College, and a gentleman with some years' practical experience in India, who was strongly recommended by the Principal of the institution named and the Controller of the Glanders and Farcy Department. I have purposely allowed a few weeks to elapse before expressing any opinion on Mr. Dubash's capabilities, but I am now able to state that he has shown himself to be quite capable of dealing with the ordinary cases of disease amongst animals which call for his attention. It would, therefore, appear to be improbable that a new veterinary officer will be required at Zanzibar for some years to come, and, when the necessity again arises, I think that, in view of the character of the work which the local officer is called upon to undertake, and of the fact that the great majority of the persons with whom he has to deal are Indians, it will be advisable to again have recourse to the Government of India.
As regards the proposed extension to this Protectorate of the investigations to be conducted by a veterinary bacteriologist in British East Africa, I do not think that, considering the comparatively small numbers of live-stock in this country and the general absence of disease amongst them, there is any great advantage to be derived from a visit of inspection at the present time or under ordinary circum- stances. The Zanzibar Government would be very glad, however, if an arrangement could be made with the Colonial Office whereby they could make use of the bacterio- logist's services in the event of the occurrence of horse-sickness or of any other epidemic amongst the animals in this Protectorate.
The Right Honourable
Sir Edward Grey, Bart., M.P.,
&c.,
&c.,
&c.
I have, &c.,
BASIL S. CAVE.
No. 176.
FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received August 29, 1907.)
The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs presents his compliments to the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, and, by direction of the Secretary
of State, transmits herewith copy of the under-mentioned paper.
Foreign Office,
August 28, 1907.
REFERENCE TO PREVIOUS LETTER.
Foreign Office, May 9, 1907.*
• No. 131.
· 31266
No. 177.
EAST AFRICA PROTECTORATE.
GOVERNOR HAYES SADLER to THE EARL OF ELGIN. (Received August 31, 1907.)
(No. 345.)
MY LORD,
[Copy to Board of Agriculture, September 3, 1907. L.F.]
Governor's Office, Nairobi, August 9, 1907. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's despatch,
No. 359, of June 27th,* and to submit in reply a copy of a report by the Acting
• No. 158.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
།། །,། །
Reference :-
C.O. 885
20 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-