PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 885
24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
| ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRESS NOT TO BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
SIR,
(Tonga. Secret.)
270
WESTERN PACIFIO.
Enclosure 6 in No. 101.
Office of the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific,
Suva, Fiji, 5th August, 1914.
I HAVE the honour to inform you that I have to-day received a telegram from the Secretary of State for the Colonies notifying me of the outbreak of war between Great Britain and Germany.
2. I shall be obliged if you will be good enough to acquaint the King of Tonga, personally, of the above fact.
3. You will be careful to report, when possible, the movements of any hostile ships, using for the purpose the radio instruments of any vessels equipped with wireless telegraphy that may be at Tonga at the time.
I have, &c.,
His Britannic Majesty's Agent and Consul,
41682
Tonga.
No. 102.
BICKHAM ESCOTT,
High Commissioner.
THE RESIDENT COMMISSIONER, NEW HEBRIDES, to THE HIGH
(Confidential.)
47427
COMMISSIONER.
(Received in Colonial Office, 28th October, 1914.)
British Residency, Vila, 11th September, 1914. [Printed as No. 115 in Australian No. 223.]
No. 103.
THE ACTING RESIDENT COMMISSIONER, SOLOMON ISLANDS, to THE HIGH COMMISSIONER.*
(Received in Colonial Office, 30th November, 1914.)
(Solomon Islands. No. 117.)
YOUR EXCELLENCY,
Office of the Resident Commissioner, Tulagi,
28th August, 1914.
I HAVE the honour to inform you that for several reasons I deemed it neces- sary to suspend for a time all recruiting of native labourers. The reasons for my
action are as follows:-
1. The local shipping can be better safeguarded and more control exer- cised over the vessels; there are some 30 vessels engaged in recruiting, many are away without report for a considerable time.
2. On the news of war reaching the Protectorate, with the uncertainty of oversee vessels arriving with provisions, a deputation of 18 persons waited upon_me. The deputation was introduced by Mr. Ross, manager for Lever's, and included managers of several companies, plantation owners, traders, and masters of vessels. It explained, among other things, that the shortage of rice and native foods would be a very serious thing, and they doubted their ability to keep up full rations for their labourers and to assist in the food supply. They requested that the explosives regulation be relaxed to enable fish to be captured with the aid of dynamite. Some explained that they were very short of food; others had none, while one master of a vessel just arrived with a number of recruits stated he could not procure a sufficient quantity of rice to carry his recruits to the plantation. I definitely
• Enclosure 6 in High Commissioner's despatch No. 454, of 30th September, 1914: not printed.
271
WESTERN PACIFIC.
refused the request, but promised to see that those urgently in need of rice were promptly supplied; this I did, and also satisfied myself that the supply of rice in the Protectorate was ample for a few months, although the stocks were held by a few firms.
3. The firms of Lever's and Burns Philp practically hold all the supply of benzine and other oils used by motor vessels; all the recruiting vessels are auxiliary driven. These firms have closed down on the sale of these oils to outside vessels unless engaged for their own controlled plantations for recruiting labourers, thus preventing a large number of vessels and other planters from getting labour.
4. There are now between 4,000 and 5,000 labourers employed in the group, and it will be only by the exercise of strict economy that rations will last out any possibility of protracted delays in getting stores. Mr. Ross, of Lever's, explained to me that he had instructions to send back home the labourers if food supplies ran out; & most undesirable proceeding.
5. Reports still come to hand that natives are obtaining supplies of ammunition; suspicion rests on labour vessels as the medium through which these supplies are obtained. The cessation for a time of all recruiting would enable a more rigorous investigation, and the search of vessels at Tulagi, before any licences are issued, checking the arms and ammunition carried for protection on departure and return. At present vessels are scattered all over the group, departing from any where with the current permit; given a clean start, every one might be compelled to start from Tulagi.
6. This is the time of year when natives attend to their food gardens. These gardens are, owing to a prolonged dry season, in a backward state, and it is necessary that all able-bodied men should remain to attend to their gardens. It is a general and well-known custom when food is scarce for men to recruit and shirk their communal duties. leaving the care of gardens to the old men, women, and children. 7. The spread of dysentery among natives on plantations is very serious. There have been a large number of deaths from this cause within the past few months. This is alone a sufficient reason to restrict the intro- duction of recruits, and more care can be given to those already employed.
I trust that you will find the foregoing as a good and sufficient cause for my action.
It is just possible that Lover's Sydney office will approach you on this matter, but I respectfully beg your consideration of my contention that their action is a very selfish one, knowing that others cannot have the same facilities of importing and procuring supplies.
I have, &c.,
F. J. BARNETT, Acting Resident Commissioner.
His Excellency
The High Commissioner
for the Western Pacific.
47508
No. 104.
THE HIGH COMMISSIONER to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 30th November, 1914.)
[Answered by No. 110.]
Office of the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific,
Suva, Fiji, 24th September, 1914.
I HAVE the honour to transmit to you k ters from the Resident Commissioner
(Confidential)
SIR,