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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
·Reference :---
C.O. 885
24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPHÉNOT TO
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to British subjects of double nationality, if second nationality was German or Austrian. These instructions were carefully noted by all officers concerned with the issue of passports.
Return of Sir Arthur Young.-The Secretary of State telegraphed on the Mooltan." He 22nd August that Sir Arthur Young was returning by the 8.8. arrived on the 6th September.
Sugar.-In a telegram dated the 25th August the Secretary of State author- ized the exportation of sugar (which had been prohibited) to places other than enemy countries. Telegrams were despatched to Penang, Malacca, Labuan, and the Federated Malay States, and a Gazette Extraordinary, No. 77, issued on the 26th August.
Prohibition of Export of Foodstuffs from United Kingdom.-In a telegram dated the 25th August the Secretary of State referred to the prohibition of exporta- tion of foodstuffs from the United Kingdom, and inquired to what extent the Colony was dependent upon the United Kingdom for certain articles. A reply was sent. In a later telegram, dated the 31st August, the Secretary of State intimated that the prohibition of exportation had been withdrawn.
Restoration of Trade; Export of Animals.—A telegram from the Secretary of State dated the 26th August contained instructions for the restoration of trade to its usual footing, so far as possible. It also desired that export of saddle, draught, or pack animals should be prohibited. A notification to this effect was issued in Gazette Extraordinary, No. 82, of 5th September.
Declaration of London.-In a telegram dated the 27th August the Secretary had been adopted during of State announced that the "Declaration of London hostilities, subject to certain modifications. The information was communicated to the Attorney-General (who takes the place of the Procurator-General in the United Kingdom) for his guidance in the action to be taken by him in Prize Courts. The Declaration of London, as modified, was later published in the Gazette of the 17th September.
Silleveldt, Rotterdam.-The Secretary of State telegraphed on the 28th August a warning against permitting exports of foodstuffs consigned to Silleveldt, Rotter- dam. Confidential instructions were at once sent to the Resident Councillor, Penang, Resident, Malacca, and Registrar of Imports and Exports, Singapore, to enforce a scrutiny of all exports of foodstuffs to Rotterdam, and to report immediately any case of an export to the above-mentioned firm. No such case has yet been reported. Prize Courts-A telegram dated 28th August from the Secretary of State contained instructions for the issue of Proclamations relating to the establishment of Prize Courts in the United Kingdom, and in the Colony. It also dealt with The Proclamations were issued in the release of British and neutral cargo.
had Gazette No. 80 of the 31st August. The release of all British and neutral cargo already been allowed.
Government War Risk Insurance Scheme; Merchant Vessels to Continue Trade. In a telegram dated the 31st August the Secretary of State referred to a Government war risk insurance scheme, and desired that merchant vessels should The not be detained in harbour unless enemy warships were known to be near. information was immediately communicated to the Naval Intelligence Officer and Master Attendant, who took all necessary action to make it known to persons concerned.
Exportation of Foodstuffs.- In a code telegram dated the 31st August the Secretary of State, referring to his telegram of the 25th August, reported that the prohibition of export of foodstuffs from the United Kingdom had been withdrawn.
Prize Courts.-A telegram from the Secretary of State dated the 31st August contained directions relating to British cargo in enemy ships which had become prizes. The Attorney-General, who in the Colony fulfils the duty of the Pro- curator-General in the United Kingdom, duly noted these directions for his guidance.
Steam Coal.-In a telegram dated the 2nd September the Secretary of State desired that a minimum stock of steam coal should be kept both at Singapore and it was Penang. Upon the recommendation of the Naval Intelligence Officer decided to keep a minimum stock of 60,000 tons in Singapore and 17,500 tons in Penang, and the necessary action was taken. It was subsequently considered
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advisable to control the bunkering of steamers in Singapore, and Gazette Extra- ordinary of the 12th October notified the appointment of the Wharf Manager, The firms affected by the Govern- Singapore Harbour Board, to be Controller.
ment's action have given assurances of their loyal co-operation.
Treatment of Crew of Prize Ships.-A telegram from the Secretary of State dated the 5th September contained instructions with regard to the pay and personal effects of officers and men of enemy ships captured as prizes. These instructions were duly acted upon by the Attorney-General.
Foodstuffs for Rotterdam. In a telegram dated the 7th September the Secretary of State added to the instructions already given in the telegram of the 28th August, by desiring that if any vessel sailed from any port in the Colony carrying foodstuffs to Rotterdam, the fact should at once be telegraphed to the Colonial Office. The Master Attendant, the Registrar of Imports and Exports, and the Resident Councillor, Penang, took all necessary action for giving effect to these instructions.
Export of Raw Rubber-The Secretary of State telegraphed on the 8th September desiring the prohibition of the exportation of raw rubber to certain foreign ports in Europe. The prohibition was notified in Gazette Extraordinary No. 83, of the 9th September.
Prize Courts. In a telegram dated the 8th September the Secretary of State, referring to his telegram of the 20th August, forwarded a legal opinion relating to the institution of proceedings in the Prize Courts, and drew a distinction between "prizes" and "droits of Admiralty."
The Attorney-General duly noted the contents of the telegram for his guidance in proceedings in the Prize Court of the Colony.
Anglo-Dutch Relations. As there was a certain amount of apprehension in the Colony regarding Anglo-Dutch relations, and as this apprehension was having an unfavourable effect upon the Colony's trade with the Netherlands Indies, it was deemed expedient to publish an authoritative statement upon the subject. A telegram was therefore despatched to the Secretary of State upon the 12th September. A reply of the same date gave permission for such a statement to be made.
An official communiqué in the local Press had the effect desired, and was warmly appreciated by the Dutch Consul-General in Singapore.
Ammunition for British Armed Merchant Vessels. The Secretary of State's Secret circular of the 10th August was received on the 15th September. instructions contained therein relating to the supply of ammunition to certain British armed merchant vessels were duly noted by the Master Attendant.
S.s. "Cordillère."-In a telegram dated the 15th September the Secretary of State requested that all facilities be afforded to ensure the rapid passage of the French mail steamer "Cordillère." Every department concerned gave all possible assistance.
The
German Warships, Coal Supplies of-The Secretary of State telegraphed instructions in cipher, on the 16th September, that he was to be informed imme- diately if any case should occur of a German warship getting coal more than once in three months in a neutral port, or getting more coal than would suffice to carry it to the nearest German port.
The Naval Intelligence Officer and Master Attendant noted the instructions. No cases have been reported of the breaches of neutrality specified in the telegram. Postal Censorship. In a telegram dated the 17th September the Secretary of The procedure State directed that a postal censorship should be put in force. followed in the United Kingdom was immediately put into effect: postal matter from enemy country and territory being received, but not forwarded, the censors opening all postal matter and destroying such as is unimportant.
Non-Detention of German Consuls. The Secretary of State inquired in a cipher telegram dated the 19th September whether any German Consuls were being detained against their will in the Colony. A telegraphic reply in the negative was despatched on the 22nd September.
Definition of certain words in the Declaration of London. In a telegram dated the 19th September the Secretary of State communicated the definitions to ""fortified place," and "base," as used in Article 34 be put upon the words "enemy,'
of the Declaration of London, and desired that any contentions put forward by the Attorney-General in proceedings in the Prize Courts should be in accordance with these definitions. The Attorney-General duly noted the contents of the telegram.