661
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
TILITICO.
اليسا
885/25
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
40
MINUTES.
After considerable discussion it was decided to submit a report to the Treasury recommending that, in spite of the above-cited opinion, an application should be made to the Prize Court with a view to securing Orders for the permanent requisition of the detained vessels at present out on temporary requisition, and, further, that the Prize Court should be requested to appraise the vessels for the purpose of such requisition as at the date of their first requisition. In connexion with the latter point it was to be mentioned that it would be convenient to all parties concerned that the valuations of the vessels should be made at the present time, and that this view was understood to be shared by the Ministry of Shipping.
6. Utilization of prize and detained vessels for replacement of requisitioned vessels lost through war risks.-Mr. Strohmenger mentioned that the Cabinet had agreed that, where possible, the Ministry of Shipping should replace requisitioned vessels lost through war risks by vessels of similar size and type belonging to the Government instead of making a cash payment as compensation. With a view to giving effect to this decision the Ministry of Shipping were proposing to ask that detained enemy vessels and prizes should be utilized for this purpose and handed over to owners under requisition. He asked how far such vessels could be con- sidered immediately available, and what steps would be necessary to render them available. Mr. Strohmenger was asked to arrange that the Ministry of Shipping should put forward their suggestion in writing.
4315
THE ONE Hundred And Fiftieth MeetING of the Committee was held at the Colonial Office on Wednesday, the 18th of September, 1918. at 5.0 p.m.
The following members were present
ADMIRAL SIR E. J. W. SLADE, K.C.I.E., K.C.V.O. (Chairman).
MR. W. J. EVANS, C.B.E., Admiralty.
MR. H. W. Malkin, C.M.G., Foreign Office.
MR. L. D. WAKELY, India Office.
MR. C. TENNYSON, C.M.G., Colonial Office.
MR. T. H. HOLT, O.B.E., Crown Agents.
MR. G. A. JONES, acted as Secretary.
MR. R. W. WOODS, C.B.E., of the Department of His Majesty's Procurator-General, attended during the first four items, and MR. STROHMENGER (representing Mr. Bunbury) attended during part of the discussion of item 4 and for item 5.
1. The minutes of the One Hundred and Forty-ninth Meeting were confirmed
2. Seventh Interim Report (relating to the requisition and valuation of detained enemy ships).—A draft of this report was considered and amended. The revised draft was to be further considered at the next meeting of the Committee.
3. Finances. The Committee considered a detailed statement setting out the The statement showed a position of their accounts on the 31st March last. balance of £1,904,398 78. 6d.
4. General questions.—In consequence of the establishment of one Prize Fund for the whole Empire by the Naval Prize Act, 1918, the Committee proceeded to consider the general questions arising thereon as set out in the memorandum prepared by the Secretary.
(i) Incidence of cost of telegrams.-The Committee considered that the principle by which this should be decided was that (apart from telegrams connected with legal proceedings which are dealt with by the Act) the cost of telegrams should be borne by the Government or body that benefited by the employment of the ships concerned.
Since the whole of the earnings of captured vessels, whether condemned as prize or only to detention, are for the benefit of His Majesty's Govern- ment, whether the Home or one of the Dominion Governments, it follows that the State should bear the cost of all telegrams sent on the Committee's business, with the possible exception of those that may have been sent
MINUTES.
41
respecting the sale of prize cargoes, and which might therefore be charged to the Prize Fund.
With regard to telegrams sent from this country, it was not considered necessary to recommend that an adjustment should be made between the Departments, as the ultimate incidence would be on the State in any case. On the question of a partial recovery from the Prize Fund, the Committee were of opinion that the sum which might upon a detailed investigation prove to be properly attributable to the Prize Fund would, in any case, be only a small proportion of the total, and would not justify the considerable labour and expense which would be entailed in the preparation of
account.
an
With regard to the cost of telegrams despatched by Oversea Governments and representatives of His Majesty in foreign countries, it was thought that reimbursement should be made from the Imperial Exchequer in cases where claims have been, or are hereafter, advanced, unless it could be urged, in the case of an Oversea Government, that the Government preferring the claim had derived substantial benefit from the employment of the ship or ships concerned. The Committee did not anticipate that many of the Oversea Governments would advance claims in respect of expenditure on telegrams
The Committee decided to recommend to the Treasury accordingly.
5. Utilization of prize and detained enemy vessels for replacement of requisitioned vessels lost through war risk.—A letter from the Ministry of Shipping, and also a letter from the Treasury extending the terms of reference of the Com- mittee to enable them to deal with the matter, were laid before the Committee. It was decided that a detailed consideration of the questions raised by the letter from the Ministry of Shipping should be left over for the next meeting.
4321
THE ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-FIRST MEETING of the Committee was held
at the Colonial Office on Thursday, the 26th September, 1918, at 11.0 a.m.
The following members were present:-
ADMIRAL SIR E. J. W. SLADE, K.C.I.E., K.C.V.O. (Chairman),
MR. W. J. EVANS, C.B.E., Admiralty.
MR. H. N. BUNBURY, C.B., Treasury.
MR. H. W. MALKIN, C.M.G., Foreign Office.
MR. L. D. WAKELY, India Office.
MR. C. TENNYSON, C.M.G., Colonial Office.
MR. T. H. HOLT. O.B.E., Crown Agents.
MR. G. A. JONES acted as Secretary.
MR. R. W. WOODS, C.B.E., of the Department of His Majesty's Procurator-General, attended during fart of the discussion of item 2.
1. The minutes of the One Hundred and Fiftieth Meeting were confirmed, subject to two alterations in paragraph 4.
2. Seventh Interim Report (relating to the requisition and valuation of detained enemy ships). The draft of this report was further amended, and finally approved for submission to the Treasury.
3. Utilization of prize and detained.enemy vessels for replacement of requisi- tioned vessels lost through war risk.-Mr. Bunbury explained the administrative and financial considerations which had given rise to the suggestion, and added that the Shipping Controller had asked that any vessels deemed available for the purpose in view might be placed at his disposal at as early a date as may be practicable.
A general discussion of the matter ensued and the Secretary was instructed to embody the decisions arrived at in a draft report to be considered at the next meeting. The report was to be divided into two parts, one dealing with the case of vessels which had been condemned as prize, and the other with vessels sentenced to detention by the Prize Court in this country.