PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
TILLI C.O.885
21 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
150
references to this question are contained in Lord Crewe's despatch* to the Indian Government (Public, No. 68, of the 12th of April last), and in the despatch from the Government of India of the 4th of July. In the latter despatch it was stated that the Indian Government was in communication with the local Governments with regard to the payment of commissions to recruiters, and would forward their views and recommendations on these matters at an early date. It appears to Mr. Harcourt that the argument for deferring action in regard to the restriction of the recruiting areas applies with equal force to any proposal for an immediate change in the system of recruitment by commissions. He considers that it would be most difficult for Mr. Gibbes and Mr. Marsden to advise whether they can find a practicable alter- native until they are in a position to judge, from one season's actual experience, of the results of recruiting through the Agency in the United Provinces; and he trusts that Lord Crewe will accept his view that this question cannot usefully be further considered until the new arrangements have been tried for, at any rate, one recruiting season. I am to add that there are reasons for hoping that the establishment of the new Agency in the United Provinces should, in any case, result in a reduction of the fees now paid for recruiting.
It will be seen from paragraphs 10 and 11 of the enclosed letter that changes are in contemplation at the Madras Agency, and it will, of course, be realised that those changes will entail a considerable addition to the work and responsibility of the Agents at Calcutta.
I am, &c.,
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(Confidential.)
SIR,
No. 93.
COLONIAL OFFICE to INDIA OFFICE. [Answered by No. 102.]
H. W. JUST.
Downing Street, 19 December, 1912. WITH reference to the letter from this Department of even date‡ herewith, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Harcourt to request you to inform the Marquess of Crewe that there are certain points connected with the arrangements to be made for carrying out the amalgamation of the two British Agencies at Calcutta with which it is thought preferable to deal in a confidential letter.
2. It will be seen from the seventh paragraph of the letter under reference that it has been decided that Mr. Marsden should take charge of the depôt to be established in the United Provinces, and that he will therefore be responsible for carrying out the new recruiting arrangements.
3. In dealing with the question of the establishment of a recruiting depôt in the United Provinces, Mr. Marsden has written as follows:-
"The proposal that a Government depôt full of No. 58]
by the Agent in Calcutta."
[Paragraph 8 in
4. Mr. Harcourt agrees with Mr. Marsden in thinking that the success of the new arrangements will largely depend upon the working of the up-country depôt, and he trusts that all members of the Indian Government Service who come into contact with the British Emigration Agent in the United Provinces may be instructed to give him every assistance that lies in their
power.
I am to request you to inform Lord Crewe that Mr. Marsden has been in somewhat close touch with this Department since he has been on leave in England, and that Mr. Harcourt is satisfied that he is a loyal and meritorious officer; and though in the past he has not always acted with discretion, it is believed that in future there will be no further trouble on this score.
6. It appears to Mr. Harcourt that the present position of the Emigration Agents in India must necessarily be one of difficulty, inasmuch as they are responsible for the working of a system which is admittedly unpopular with various sections of the community, and lie therefore trusts that Mr. Marsden, Mr. Gibbes, and their subordinates may be accorded all possible sympathy and support.
I am, &c.,
• Enclosure 1 in No. 68.
Enclosure 3 in No. 68.
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151
No. 94.
COLONIAL OFFICE to Mr. A. MARSDEN.
for
SIR,
I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Harcourt to transmit to you,
Downing Street, 19 December, 1912. mation and guidance, the accompanying copy of a letter* which he has caused to be your infor- addressed to Mr. Gibbes, relative to the steps to be taken with a view to carrying out the amalgamation of the British Emigration Agencies at Calcutta. the covering letterf in which it is being forwarded to the India Office is also enclosed. A copy of 2. This letter deals fully with the questions which will require consideration and the points upon which it will be necessary that Mr. Gibbes and you should furnish joint reports.
3.
You will note that it has been decided that you should take charge of the new depôt in the United Provinces and that Mr. Gibbes should remain in Calcutta ; and that you will be jointly responsible for the success of the new arrangements, neither of you being regarded as senior to the other.
4. You will see that the Marquess of Crewe has been requested to agree to defer the proposed limitation of the recruiting areas until the up-country depôt is in full working order; and you will also observe that an undertaking has been given that the possibility of substituting some other system of recruiting for the present system of payment by commission shall be fully considered after actual experience has been obtained of the results of recruiting through the Agency in the United Provinces. You will, of course, appreciate the importance of meeting Lord Crewe's wishes in this matter should any practicable alternative be possible, and Mr. Har- court will rely upon Mr. Gibbes and you to give the matter the fullest possible consideration.
5. I am to add that Mr. Harcourt recognises the difficulties of those who are responsible for the work of superintending emigration from India to the Colonies at the present time, and I am to inform you that he has invited Lord Crewe's attention to this aspect of the situation, and has expressed the hope that you may receive possible assistance from the members of the Indian Government Service who are brought into contact with emigration.
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No. 95.
every
I am, &c.,
H. W. JUST.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNORS. [Answered by No. 118.]
(Trinidad. No. 425.) (British Guiana. No. 301.)
(Jamaica. No, 358.) (Fiji. No. 334.). ŠIR,
Downing Street, 20th December, 1912. WITH reference to my despatch, No. [(77), (51), (53), of the 27th of February, 1912], [43, of the 28th of February, 1912], relative to the proposed amalgamation of the two British Agencies at Calcutta, I have the honour to transmit to you a copy of a letters from Mr. Marsden which has been under my consideration and copy of a letter* which has been addressed to the Emigration Agent for British Guiana at Calcutta relative to the action to be taken with a view to giving effect to my decision on this subject.
2. It will be seen from the letter to the Emigration Agent for British Guiana at Calcutta that the new arrangements should, so far as possible, be brought into force as from the 1st of April next, and that it is hoped to complete the amalgama- tion by the 31st of December, 1913, at latest.
3. To Fiji only: I take this opportunity of acknowledging the receipt of your despatch, No. 272, of the 15th of October last, on the subject of the Fiji
Nos. [47], [46], [48].
No. 85.
II. W. JUST.
• No. 90.
† No. 92. § No. 58 (without portions in [
]).
✰ No. 92.
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KA