PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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MINUTES.
their voyages, were also read. With regard to the "Birkenfels," it was arranged that the Salvage Association should be instructed to push on their arrangements for getting the ship ready for sea as fast as possible. A telegram was to be sent to the Commonwealth stating definitely the liabilities which the Commonwealth Government would have to undertake in connexion with the cargo. The Governor- General of South Africa was to be informed that no offers to purchase the ship in South Africa could be entertained. The Secretary was to inquire of the Pro- curator-General or the Marshal what arrangements were made in this country about the payment of dock dues on condemned vessels. A telegram was to be sent to the Governor-General of the Commonwealth, asking whether the Government of the Commonwealth were willing to give the necessary indemnities with regard to the "Hamm" and the "Apolda."
4. Mr. Hawes, of Grahams & Company, attended the Committee to discuss certain points in connexion with the chartering of the "Frisia." It was arranged that Grahams and Company should keep Mr. Holt informed in future of their transactions on behalf of the Indian Government.
5.
Certain questions in connexion with the earnings of the oversee detained ships were discussed, and Mr. Barstow undertook to make inquiries with regard to the power to draw from these earnings.
6.
The Chairman informed the Committee that a claim for £2,000 had been made by the brokers in respect of commissions for fixing the provisional cover on the detained ships requisitioned for the coasting trade, although the arrangements for the insurance had now been cancelled. It was agreed that the correspondence should be sent to Waltons & Company, and that Messrs. Hartley Cooper should be informed that the matter was receiving consideration.
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7. "Emir,"
Syra," Slawentzitz," and "Græcia,”—A telegram from the Governor of Gibraltar was read, showing that a considerable amount of cargo remained on these ships. The Chairman undertook to inquire from the Admiralty whether they wished the lead and copper on the "Græcia " to be brought home, and it was agreed that a telegram should be sent to the Governor inquiring particulars as to the consignees of the cargo on the "Syra," with details as to freight paid and unpaid, and whether the cargo was released. The Governor should also be informed that it was proposed to change the name of the "Slawentzitz" to the "Rooke." Mr. Roper undertook to arrange for a telegram to be sent from the Board of Trade to the Registrar of Shipping at Gibraltar to this effect. The Chairman stated that he wished these ships fixed for ore so far as possible.
8. "Lutzow" and 'Derfflinger."-Mr. Holt had received an offer from F. Green & Company to manage the "Derfflinger" for a payment of 5 per cent. on their disbursements and the usual brokerage. An offer had also been received from Sir John Ellerman with regard to the "Lutzow." Mr. Holt was to complete the arrangements with Green & Company, offering the "Lutzow" to Harris, Dickson & Company, should the negotiations with Sir John Ellerman fall through, Inquiries should be made as to the procedure necessary for securing registration
for these vessels.
9. Application of the Belgian Government for Sailing Vessels. It was agreed that Mr. Holt should tell Kellock & Company that, if the Belgian Govern- ment wished to have these vessels at less than the ordinary market rate, they should make the application to the Foreign Office.
10. "Belgia."-An offer from the Anglo-Persian Oil Company to charter this steamer was considered. The Committee agreed that, since the ship was in the United Kingdom and not yet adjudicated, the matter was outside their jurisdiction and should be dealt with by the Admiralty.
11. A letter from Kellock & Company was read, asking whether the valuation of the "Furth should be on a basis of deferred payments or not. It was decided that the valuation should be on a cash basis and Messrs. Kellock so informed.
12. The terms on which the Committee should employ Messrs. Kellock or any other broker to sell oversea prizes by auction were discussed. It was decided that Mr. H. G. Kellock should be invited to discuss the question with the Chairman, and that Mr. Holt should make inquiries meanwhile.
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"Lindenfels.”—Mr. Wakely undertook to remind the Indian Government in two days if an answer had not been received to the question whether they desired to keep this vessel in Indian trade.
14.
"
for the
A short draft agreement,* prepared by Messrs. Waltons & Company, for execution by shipping companies undertaking to manage steamers for the Com- mittee, was approved, subject (a) to the substitution of the "Admiralty "Committee as the body in whose favour the agreement should be made, and (b) to the terms of the remuneration being left in blank.
15. Insurance of Cargoes of Detained Ships. A memorandum of a meeting between Mr. Glanvill, of Glanvill, Enthoven & Company, and Mr. Wakely, Mr. Malkin, and Mr. Tennyson, was read and discussed. It was decided that inquiries should be made whether ships in the United Kingdom are insured against risks other than fire, how the value of cargo destroyed is ascertained, whether the pro- posed provisional cover will involve payment on cargoes already insured, and whether the Government will be involved in expenses if it is ascertained, after the provisional cover is fixed, that there is no insurable cargo or a negligible amount of such cargo at any port named for insurance. Mr. Wakely asked whether it was plain that, in the absence of insurance, the Government of India would not be held responsible for the loss of the three Ceylon vessels which were now on the way home from Calcutta with cargo. The Committee were of the opinion that no liability would fall on the Indian Government in this event.
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THE TWENTY-THIRD MEETING of the Committee was held at the Colonial Office on Monday, the 1st of February, 1915, at 3.15 p.m
The following members were present:
VICE-ADMIRAL SIR E. J. W. SLADE, K.C.I.E., K.C.V.O. (Chairman).
MB. W. J. EVANS, Admiralty.
MR. G. ROPER, Board of Trade.
MR. H. L. MALKIN, Foreign Office.
MR. L. D. WAKELY, India Office.
MR. C. B. TENNYSON, C.M.G., Colonial Office.
MR. T. H. HOLT, Crown Agents.
MR. R. A. WISEMAN (Secretary).
1. Steamship "Birkenfels."-Mr. Tennyson informed the Committee what the position was with regard to this ship. It was decided that the question of
financing the Federal Steam Navigation Company should be discussed at a subsequent meeting.
The Committee recommended that a telegram should be sent to the Govern- ment of South Africa, asking them to furnish an estimate of the legal costs attri- butable to obtaining the release of the cargo and to obtaining the condemnation of the ship respectively.
2. Steamships "Gutenfels" and "Barenfels."-The Committee discussed the action to be taken in regard to these ships when they arrived at their port of destination in India. Mr. Holt undertook to inquire from Messrs. Grahams & Company what the position of their firm was in the matter.
A letter which had been received from Messrs. Grahams & Company, relative to the cargo on the "Gutenfels," was considered by the Committee. After discus- sion of a similar situation in regard to the steamship "Istria" (as to which see below), the Committee agreed to the proposals contained in the letter, subject to a decision on the point whether, in the event of any part of the cargoes being released to the owners, the latter should pay freight for the voyage. Messrs. Waltons & Company were to discuss the matter with the other parties interested.
An agreement with regard to the removal of the ship Gutenfels approved by the Committee, subject to the warranty clause being struck out.
* No. 12 (c) in Appendix B. + No. 6 in Appendix B.
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