19.1
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 885
6
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
26
discussed at the Conference until they have before them the report of the proceeding and the resolutions which may be arrived at.
Lord Jersey has asked that the services of Mr. W. H. Mercer of my department, who is specially conversant with the correspondence bearing on such questions as those which will be discussed at the Conference, may be placed at his disposal, and I beg to re- commend Mr. Mercer to your good offices and acquaintance.
9917.
No. 27.
I have, &c. (Signed)
RIPON.
THE HALIFAX AND BERMUDAS CABLE CO. to COLONIAL OFFICE.
SIB,
(Received June 8, 1894.)
[Answered by No. 35.]
BERMUDA, TURKS ISLAND, and JAMAICA CABLE.
33, Old Broad Street, London, E.C.,
June 7, 1894.
My Chairman requests me to inform you that during his duties in Canada last month he had interviews with Sir John Thompson and the Hon. Mackenzie Bowell relating to the above cable connexion, when both these gentlemen shewed the greatest interest in the scheme and they think that the work should be carried out.
He was obliged to return to London and left the matter therefore in the hands of Sir Donald Smith to carry it to a settlement with the hope that after three years' work it may be completed.
Sir Henry Blake informs me that he would be glad to go to Ottawa if necessary, as the delegate for the West Indies, and I beg to say that we are strongly convinced that these Colonies should be represented at the Conference.
9187.
SIB,
No. 28.
I am,
&c.
(Signed)
J. RIPPON,
General Manager.
COLONIAL OFFICE to FOREIGN OFFICE.
Downing Street, June 9, 1894.
In reply to your letter of the 28th May, I am directed by the Marquess of Ripon to state, for the information of the Earl of Kimberley, that the Samoan question was not one of the subjects on account of which the Conference about to be held at Ottawa was summoned, and that be bas no reason, beyond the appearance of an isolated statement in a newspaper, to suppose that there is any intention of bringing the subject forward.
I am to add that Lord Ripon will discourage, so far as he is able to do so, any proposal which may be made to discuss this question, and that if it is entered upon at the Conference the representative of Her Majesty's Government would be instructed to make a formal declaration upholding all our treaty engagements and to withdraw from the sitting.
• No. 18.
I am, &c.
(Signed) JOHN BRAMSTON.
5452.
27
No. 29.
THE MARQUESS OF RIPON to the EARL OF JERSEY.
MY LORD,
Downing Street, June 9, 1894. Ir having been determined to send a representative of the Imperial Government to the Inter-Colonial Conference about to be held at Ottawa, your Lordship has been good enough at my request to undertake the duty of that position, and I have now to offer to you the best thanks of Her Majesty's Government for the ready manner in which you have acceded to their wish in this respect.
Your experience in Australia and your strong interest in the welfare of the Colonies afford the best assurance that the Government will derive much advantage from your presence as their representative at the approaching Conference,
The Governor-General of Canada has been informed by telegraph that you have consented to attend the Conference.
The subjects which it is proposed should be discussed at the Conference are indicated in the accompanying extract from a letter from the High Commissioner for Canada.
It is the desire of Her Majesty's Government that your Lordship should, on their behalf, take part in the meetings of the Conference, discussing with the Colonial repre- sentatives the schemes proposed, and giving such information and explanations on matters of fact as the various official papers supplied to you will furnish. You will thus be able
to facilitate the consideration of any proposals which the Conference may desire to submit for the consideration of Her Majesty's Government, but the assent of the Government cannot be given to any proposal until it has been fully reported on by you and examined by them at home, and you should therefore avoid committing them to any views or promises with regard to the schemes discussed.
Adverting to the particular questions enumerated by Sir C. Tupper, I have to make the following observations:-
(1.) Papers will be supplied to you from which you will be able to explain the position as regards Neckar Island. The question of the suitability of this island as a landing stage for the proposed Pacific cable cannot be determined until the results of the examination by the man-of-war despatched for the purpose are known. If the Colonial representatives press for the immediate acquisition of the island
you should point out that the matter is one which may give rise to questions of a diplomatic character which can only be dealt with by Her Majesty's Government in the Foreign Department, and you may add that you are aware that the matter is engaging their serious attention.+
(2.) It seems desirable that the proposals of Mr. S. Fleming for a Pacific cable should be examined in detail with the view of ascertaining, as far as possible, the exact financial responsibility involved by the scheme. A collection of papers on this subject is in your Lordship's hands, and your attention is especially invited to the reports by the Admiralty Hydrographer and the General Post Office on the subject.
(3.) The question of the steamship subsidy will receive careful consideration at the hands of Her Majesty's Government when it is ripe for decision. In the meanwhile it has been referred to an inter-departmental committee which has been appointed to consider the general question of mail communication between England, the East, and Australasia; but the committee will, no doubt, await the report of the proceedings of the Conference before arriving at any conclusions on the subject.
(4.) Your Lordship's attention is invited to the Second Report of the Trade and Treaties Committee (1891), which explains how and in what measure special fiscal arrangements between the United Kingdom and the Colonies are restricted. reference has recently been made to the Law Officers on one branch of the question, and it is hoped that you may be made acquainted with their opinion before you
sail.
A
I enclose a copy of a letter from the Board of Trade, which draws attention to the injury which might be caused to the 'industries and trade of this country by
• No. 2, paragraphs 1 to 4.
↑ See F. O. letter of 18th July, post, requesting an amendment of this paragraph.
↑ No. 5.
D 2
1
: