PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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PITT CO. 885
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MINUTES.
11. The "Andros."-The Committee recommended that the Admiralty should telegraph to inquire why this ship had been requisitioned.
12. The Altair,'
Achaia," "Haidar Pasha," and "Paros.”—A telegram having been received from Alexandria stating that these ships were now empty, Mr. Holt undertook to inquire whether any shipping firms would manage them for the Committee.
19. The "Lutzow. -The Committee agreed that Messrs. Harris and Dixon might send out a crew for this ship.
14. The "Istria."-A telegram having been received from Alexandria stating that this ship had now been condemned, the Committee decided that their solicitors should be informed that she could sail as soon as arrangements were completed with the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation.
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15. The
'Gutenfels," etc.-A telegram from Alexandria, relative to the release of the cargo, was considered by the Committee. It was understood that the subject would be discussed on the following day by Mr. Malkin, Mr. Tennyson, and Messrs. Waltons and Company with Messrs. Batterell and Roche, the solicitors to the representatives of the cargo owners.
16. Registration. Mr. Malkin pointed out that Alexandria was not a port of registry.
21.
The Committee recommended that all the ships which it was proposed to move from Alexandria, with the exception of the "Lutzow" and the "Derfflinger," should be registered in the United Kingdom, as had been done in the case of the
“Australia."
The Committee also recommended that the "Lindenfels" should be registered it once in the United Kingdom. They thought that the remainder of the Indian ships might wait until the India Office had learnt whether they had been requisitioned or not.
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THE TWENTY-SIXTH MEETING of the Committee was held at the Colonial Office on Thursday, the 11th 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).
MR. W. J. Evans, 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. TENNYSON, C.M.G., Colonial Office.
MR. T. H. HOLT, Crown Agents.
MR. R. A. WISEMAN (Secretary).
1. 8.8. Emir."-The Secretary explained to the Committee the steps which had been taken for the insurance of the released cargo with the War Risks Insurance Office. It was decided that the insurance premiums should be collected with the freight before the cargo was handed over by Messrs. Elder Dempster and Company to the consignees. The exact procedure was left to be settled between Mr. Holt, Mr. Tennyson, and the Secretary. The Committee was also informed that marine insurance had been taken out for the same parcels of cargo through Messrs. Glan- víll, Enthoven, and Company. The premiums for this insurance were to be collected in a similar manner to the war risks premiums.
The Committee then discussed the question of the apportionment of the freight upon the cargo carried in the ship. They thought that the contractor should be instructed as follows:--Freight for the original voyage which had not been prepaid should first be collected. In cases where through freight had been paid to ports beyond Hamburg, the Committee thought that full freights to Hamburg should be charged. The whole of the released cargo should then bear one-third of the cost of bringing the ship from Gibraltar to London, the remainder of the cost being borne out of the proceeds of the sale of the enemy cargo and the proceeds of the sale of the ship.
MINUTES.
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The Committee approved of a fee of twenty guineas being paid to the contractor for arranging for the docking of the ship.
The Committee instructed the Secretary to write to the Customs Department warning them of the arrival of the "Emir," and giving particulars as to the nature of the cargo on board.
The Committee thought that when the condemned cargo had been discharged it should be disposed of by firms of brokers acting under the directions of the Com- mittee. The appointment of the brokers should wait until the arrival of the mani- fest when it would be possible to find out what the cargo consisted of.
The Committee thought that when the "Emir" had been discharged she should be put in the care of the Admiralty.
The question of the accounting arrangements that would be necessary to deal with the various payments to be made was then discussed. It was pointed out that the amount payable to Elder Dempster and Company would require checking, and that when the enemy cargo was placed in the hands of brokers there would be further accounts to deal with. Moreover, the dock company would require to be paid as soon as the goods had been discharged, and there would be other incidental expenses of various kinds. It was suggested that a firm of accountants might perhaps be employed by the Committee. Mr. Barstow undertook to discuss the question with the Treasury Accountant, and to report to the next meeting.
2. Protection and Indemnity Risks.-Mr. Holt pointed out that only a quarter of the liability in respect of claims by third parties was covered by the existing insurance. The Committee thought that the Treasury should bear the remainder of the risk.
3. The Insurance of Ships.-The Secretary read to the Committee the letter which had been sent to Messrs. Glanvill, Enthoven, and Company on this subject. In connexion with a telegram which had been received from Australia, the Com- mittee decided that the "Wotan "should remain insured until information was received that she had been chartered and had left port. They recommended, how- ever, that a telegram should be sent to Australia, asking the Commonwealth Government to report.
had been requisi-
The Admiralty having ascertained that the "Rabenfels tioned, the Committee decided that this ship should be taken off the insurance at the end of the month.
4. Valuation of Alexandria Ships for Insurance.-The Committee decided that Messrs. Glanvill, Enthoven, and Company should be asked to include in their account Lachlan and Company's fee of two guineas for valuing ships. They should also be asked to have the "Raben fels" valued.
16 5. 8.8. Syra."-
"The Committee recommended that a telegram should be sent to the Governor of Gibraltar, asking for particulars of the instructions which it was intended to send to the agent at Alexandria with regard to the voyage of the ship to that port. They recommended, at the same time, that the Governor should be asked to state the value of the cargo on board, and what had happened to the patent fuel about which there had been previous correspondence. When a reply had been received from Gibraltar a telegram should be sent to Alexandria, asking the local authorities to appoint an official to take charge of the cargo.
6. 8.8.
Erymanthos."-The Committee recommended that the Governor of Malta should be informed that the local Prize Court should be asked to release the vessel on the Crown giving an undertaking to carry out any order made by the Privy Council.
7. 8.8. "Adolf".
"—" Georg.”—The Committee recommended that the proposal of the Governor of Gibraltar that the orders for the sale of these ships be rescinded should be approved. Mr. Holt was to arrange for Messrs. Tyzack and Branfoot to undertake the management of these ships, and possibly to load them with cargoes of ore.
8. 5.8.
Birkenfels."-A telegram from South Africa was read to the Com- mittee, who recommended that the expenses of the voyage to Australia should be met in the following way, Where the freight for the original voyage had not been prepaid the owner should pay freight, and these payments should be applied to meet the cost of moving the ship. The remainder of the cost should be met by taking