PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
51
__19
Reference :-
mimiquim C.O. 885
24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPHÍ NOT TO
16
81
MINUTES.
THE TWELFTH Meeting of the Committee was held at the Colonial Office on Thursday, the 31st of December, 1914, at 3.15 p.m.
The following members were present:-
VICE-ADMIRAL SIR Ê. J. W. SLADE, K.C.I.E., K.C.V.O. (Chairman).
MR. W. J. EVANns, Admiralty.
MR. G. L. BARSTOW, C.B., Treasury.
MR. G. ROPER, Board of Trade.
MR. H. W. MALKIN, Foreign Office.
MR. L. D. WAKELY, India Office.
MR. C. B. TENNYSON, Colonial Office. MR. T. H. HOLT, Crown Agents.
MR. R. A. WISEMAN (Secretary).
1. Steamship Australia."-The Committee considered the tenders which had been received from steamship companies for the purchase of this ship. After a short discussion, the Committee decided that the tender of the British India Steam Navigation Company should be accepted eventually. Before informing the com- panies, however, of the result of the tenders, it was thought desirable that arrange- ments should be made in order that the sale might be completed in Ceylon between the local Government and the agents of the Company. The Committee recom- mended, therefore, that a telegram should be sent to the Governor asking if the local Government could obtain the necessary orders from the Court and carry out the transaction of sale in the Colony. Pending a reply to this telegram no answer should be given to any of the tenderers.
2. Steamship "Fürth," The Committee thought that both of the offers which had been received for the purchase of this ship were unsatisfactory, and that they should be declined.
3. Steamship "Birkenfels."-Revised figures received from Mr. William Richards for the cost of moving this ship to Australia were considered by the Com- mittee. The Secretary was asked to write to Mr. Richards pointing out that he had omitted any estimate for the insurance of the risks under the Workmen's Compen- sation Act, and asking whether he had any reason for doing this. The Secretary was also instructed to ask Mr. J. Lowrey, of the Salvage Association, to appear before the Committee at their following meeting, and to ask the Salvage Association to get into touch with the Federal Steam Navigation Company and to act generally as the agents of the Committee, so far as they could usefully do so.
*
CE
4. Steamships 'Barenfels," Gutenfels," 'Lauterfels," Werdenfels."- The Secretary stated that he had now received copies of the manifests of these ships, and the Committee recommended that a letter should be written to the solicitors enclosing the correspondence with the London Chamber of Commerce and the mani- feets, and asking them to open negotiations with the Chamber and to attempt to work out a scheme on the lines of "that which had been arranged in regard to the steamship "Schneefels."
The Committee also recommended that the Foreign Office should telegraph to Egypt asking that matters in the Alexandria Prize Court might be expedited. It was thought that instructions in this sense should be given in regard to all ships now under the jurisdiction of the Court.
5. Steamship "Istria.”—A letter from the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank- ing Corporation, relative to the insurance of the cargo of this ship, was considered. It was understood that the Treasury were proposing to send a letter shortly to the Foreign Office on the subject of insurance generally. It was accordingly resolved that a reply to the Corporation's letter should be deferred for the present.
6. A letter from the Admiralty to the Colonial Office, asking that the Admir- alty might be consulted before any prize ships in oversea ports were disposed of by the local Government, was laid before the Committee. The Committee recommended that, in the case of all Colonies not possessing responsible government, a telegram should be sent to the effect that prize ships would be sold in the United Kingdom unless the Colonial Government received an advantageous offer locally, in which
MINUTES.
17
The
case the latter should apply for instructions to the Secretary of State. Committee also recommended that a telegram should be sent to the Dominions which had prize ships within their jurisdiction, asking their Governments not to dispose of any prize ships by way of sale without communicating with His Majesty's Government.
The Committee considered that local Governments might be allowed to dispose of ships of less than 1,000 tons as they thought fit.
It was recommended that a telegram should be sent to the Government of Egypt asking that in making an order for condemnation the Court should order delivery to be made to the Crown.
Steinturm," 7. Steamships
'Moltkefels."—(a) A telegram from Governor, relative to the disposal of cargo on these ships, and asking for general instructions as to dealing with cargo on prize or detained ships, was postponed for further consideration.
1
the
(b) The Committee understood that both the ships referred to had now reached the India, and they recommended that
be sent to a telegram should Government of India asking if they had any plans in connexion with the "Molt- kefels," and, if not, asking that she might be sent home to the United Kingdom. It was also recommended that the Indian Government should be asked what were its intentions with regard to the "Steinturm."
8. Steamship" Tannenfels."-The Committee recommended that the Governor of Hong Kong should be informed, in reply to his telegram on the subject, that His Majesty's Government approved of this ship being employed for the conveyance of troops to East Africa and of his making the best arrangements he could for the purpose with the firm to whom he proposed to charter the ship.
9. Steamship" Schneefels."-Mr. Tennyson informed the Committee that he had learnt that Messrs. Parker, Garrett and Company and Messrs. Walton and Company were now in agreement with regard to the whole of the draft contract in respect of this ship, with the exception of clause 7 (iii.) and (iv.). The Committee recommended that Messrs. Parker, Garrett should be informed that so much of the expenses referred to in these sub-clauses as were attributable to the proposal for sending on the ship with her cargo must be paid by the Representatives. If Messrs. Parker, Garrett wished to make any further representations on this matter, the Committee were willing to see a representative of the firm at their next meeting.
Mr. Malkin stated that the Foreign Office had informed the United States Ambassador that it was proposed to send this ship on to the United States.
The Committee approved of the form of answer which the Colonial Office pro- posed to send to Messrs. Frederick Huth and Company, who had made representations in regard to their interests in this ship.
10. Use of Naval Volunteers in the Bahamas as crews for Prize Ships.— The Committee recommended that the Governor of the Bahamas should be asked whether he had made any arrangements with the Senior Naval Officer of the station with regard to the employment of these Volunteers, and, if not, that it should be suggested to him that they might possibly be employed as prize crews to bring to the United Kingdom any ships condemned in the West Indian Colonies. Inquiry should at the same time be made as to any special qualifications of the Volunteers to act as engineers, firemen, etc.
11. Letters from Messrs. Hill, Dickinson and Company, relative to the steam- ships "Lauterfels" and "Marquis Bacquelem," from the Canadian Pacific Rail- way Company, as to the steamships "Derfflinger" and "Lutzow," and from Messrs. Ince, Colt, Ince and Roscoe, relative to a claim for necessaries supplied to one of the vessels belonging to the Deutsche Australische, D.G., were disposed of at this meeting. It was decided that a telegram from Messrs. Gowan and Company, relative to the "Birkenfels," Hamm," and "Apolda," might wait until the Com- pany's letter referred to in it was received, and that a letter from Mr. Saltmarsh, relative to the freights charged on voyages to the River Plate, should be dealt with at a subsequent meeting. In connexion with the latter, Mr. Holt undertook to make a list of the steamship companies dealing with that part of the world.
12. In reply to an inquiry from Mr. Wakely, the Committee stated that they did not consider it necessary to insure the freight on outward voyages payable in
3
呼
C