PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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Reference :-
CO. 885
24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
IALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH——NOT TO
46
CEYLON.
I have also received through the Viceroy a representation from the Government of Bengal on behalf of the British merchants of Calcutta, who are anxious that their cargo on board the "Moltkefels," the "Steinturm," and the "Rappen fels should be discharged at Indian ports. The Viceroy asks that, if possible, this may be arranged, the vessels after discharging their cargo being placed at the disposal After consulting the of this Government in Calcutta for transport purposes. Attorney-General I have replied by telegraph that the Prize Court is prepared to place the ships in charge of this Government for the purpose indicated, subject to final adjudication in the suits for their detention or condemnation, which will be continued here; and that the cargo can be released and forwarded on board the ships, subject to adjudication to be made in fresh suits instituted in the Prize Court of Calcutta, provided that this Government is fully indemnified against all losses, claims, and expenses incurred in consequence of this procedure.
.6. The general condition of the local food and produce markets is somewhat copra has better than when I addressed you last. The price of both rubber and
Our chief need at the moment is the risen, while that of rice remains steady. means of transport. Given the necessary shipping facilities, there is every pros pect of an early improvement in trade, and I may say that, subject to the result of the correspondence now proceeding with the Government of India, I contemplate the possibility of utilizing the captured enemy vessels for transport on those trade At the moment I am not in a routes where it is more immediately required. position to pursue this project further; but I may say that I am hopeful that, with tonnage available for rice imports and (more still) for exports of Ceylon's produce, it may not prove necessary for the Government to come to the financial relief of producers to any considerable extent by the exceptional measures which, of course, In the future, so far as it can be fore- I have had under earnest consideration.
The
seen, it may be that, Ceylon being an agricultural country, her products (tea, rubber, coco-nuts) will not suffer so severely as those of manufacturing countries in the universal shrinkage of trade entailed by the war, whatever its duration. greatest assistance that could be rendered commercially to Ceylon by the United Kingdom would be by an increased absorption of its coco-nut produce, particularly in the form of copra or coco-nut oil.
58/8
No. 29.
I have, &c.,
ROBERT CHALMERS,
Governor.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 28th September, 1914.)
(Confidential.)
SIR,
The Queen's House, Colombo, Ceylon, 3rd September, 1914. In continuation of my Confidential despatch of 27th August last, I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of the following telegraphic despatches:-
(a) Your cipher telegram of 26th August, advising me that (subject to certain exceptions) any interference with the normal course of trade should, so far as possible, be avoided.
I had already adopted a line of policy in full accord with the views expressed in this telegram.
(b) Your cipher telegram of the 27th August, asking that arrange- ments be made to allow of the release of coal for the Cie. Messageries Maritimes.
I am in communication with the Naval authorities on this matter, and the Applications for bunker Company's requirements will, if possible, be met in full.
coal have been granted in all cases to neutral and allied shipping.
(c) Your telegram of 27th August, regarding the adoption of the Declaration of London in a modified form by Order in Council, dated 20th August.
* No. 28.
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CEYLON.
In so far as is possible, pending the receipt of your promised despatch, the necessary steps have been taken to give effect to your instructions.
(d) Your cipher telegram of 28th August, regarding a certain firm in Rotterdam.
I asked by my cipher telegram of the 29th for a verification of the name, and I received your reply of 30th August. The necessary steps have been taken in the (e) Your telegram of 28th August, regarding the procedure to be adopted in certain cases under the Prize Court regulations.
matter.
I replied by my telegram of the 31st August, giving the information desired. (f) Your telegram of 29th August, asking me to facilitate the trans- fer and despatch to England of cargoes of zinc and lead concentrate found on German ships.
Steps are being taken to meet the wishes of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, and I shall in due course inform you of the action taken.
(g) Your cipher telegram of 31st August, referring to complaints of detention of vessels in the Far East, and directing that no vessels should be detained unless enemy men-of-war were known to be in the vicinity.
I am glad to be able to report that there has been no detention of vessels in the ports of this Colony.
(h) Your telegram of 31st August, informing me that prohibition of export from United Kingdom of foodstuffs referred to in your telegram of 25th August had been withdrawn.
Due note has been made of the information.
(1) Your telegram of 31st August, asking me to communicate to the proper officer of the Crown the instructions received from His Majesty's Government concerning goods consigned by British merchants in enemy ships under certain circumstances.
The proper officers were duly informed.
2. I still await instructions with regard to the despatch of a contingent of Ceylon Volunteers for service at the front-to which I referred in paragraph 2 of my despatch of the 27th ultimo.* Meanwhile, steps have been taken to enable the training of what I hope will grow to be a double company of selected volunteers, and such training commenced on the 3rd instant at Diyatalawa. I have been obliged on grounds of public policy to refuse many applications, both from Govern- Names are still being received, and I ment servants and from private persons. have no doubt that the full number of picked men will easily be obtained and trained in readiness for any Imperial service for which they may be required.
3. For administrative purposes in connexion with the proposed contingent I A copy of have, by my notification of 29th August, increased the strength of the Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps by a ninth company of six officers and 221 men. the Gazette Extraordinary No. 6654,† containing this notification, is enclosed.
I have also called out for active service in connexion with the training of the contingent the headquarters' staff of the Ceylon Volunteer Force. I enclose copy of the Gazette Extraordinary No. 6656, of 2nd September,† containing the necessary Proclamation.
4. At the same time a movement initiated by the Honourable the Brigadier- This body- General and warmly supported by the Chamber of Commerce has been started to raise a "Town Guard" for Colombo of (possibly) 500 Europeans. which entails little or no expense--will be of a semi-military character, and is intended as a final reserve in the unlikely event of an attack on Colombo. It should also form a useful body for preserving order in the still more unlikely event of local disturbances.
5. The Ceylon Light Infantry about half of which were mobilized on the In order to obviate the hardship outbreak of war in connexion with the defence of Colombo and the guarding of the prisoners of war, continue to give satisfaction. entailed on certain individuals by continued absence from civil employment, I have mobilized a further company of the Ceylon Light Infantry to afford the necessary reliefs. The Proclamation is contained in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 8656
* No. 28.
+ Not reprinted.