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13
No. 19.
Colonial Office to the Royal Commission on Defence of British Possessions and Commerce
Sir,
Abroad.
Downing Street, June 15, 1880. WITH reference to my letter of the 14th February,* I am directed by the Earl of Kimberley to transmit to you, for the consideration of the Royal Conimission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, copy of a despatch† from the Governor of Mauritius respecting the proposed formation of a company of rifle volunteers.
I am, &c.
Sir,
(Signed)
No. 20.
Colonial Office to Foreign Office. ·
R. H. MEADE.
Downing Street, June 15, 1880. WITH reference to previous correspondence respecting the strength and movements of the Russian squadron in the Pacific, I am directed by the Earl of Kimberley to transmit to you, for the information of Earl Granville, a copy of a despatch from the Governor-General of Canada,‡ inclosing a copy of a letter from the Secretary of State for Canada, covering a copy of one from the Lieutenent-Governor of British Columbia, with reference to the instructions issued to him with regard to furnishing information respecting the Russian fleet.
No. 21.
(Signed)
I am,
&c.
R. H. MEADE.
Royal Commission on Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad to Colonial Office.
Sir,
13, Delahay Street, June 18, 1880.
I AM directed by the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 15th instant,§ trans- mitting a copy of a despatch from the Governor of Mauritius respecting the proposed formation of a company of rifle volunteers.
Though the Royal Commission have received no evidence in respect of Mauritius, and have not yet considered in what way the garrison can best be supplemented by local levies, or what should be the constitution of the force, they are disposed to think that every encouragement should be given to the proposed movement.
HERBERT JEKYLL.
I have, &c. (Signed)
No. 22.
War Office to Colonial Office.
Sir,
War Office, June 19, 1890. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for War to acquaint you, for the informa- tion of the Earl of Kimberley, that, with a view to obtain the fullest possible information as to the best means of providing for the defence of Singapore, both as regards the works to be constructed and the garrison to be provided, it is proposed to issue instructions to the General Officer Commanding in China and Straits Settlements to form a Committee for the purpose of considering and reporting upon this question with as little delay as possible for the future consideration of the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad.
It is proposed that the Committee shall consist of—
The officer commanding troops at Singapore.
An officer of Royal Artillery.
An officer of Royal Engineers.
A naval officer, to be named by the Naval Commander-in-chief on the station.
* No. 126 of " Miscellaneous No. 39."
+ No. 6.
No. 15.
§ No. 19.
19
Should the assembly of such a Committee recommend itself to the Earl of Kimberley, I am to request that his Lordship will be pleased to inform Mr. Secretary Childers whether he would desire that a member should be added to the Committee to represent the interests of the Colony.
I have, &c.
(Signed) JOIN ADYE, Lieutenant-General.
No. 23.
Circular to all Colonies except Canada, Cape, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, Tasmania, and New Zealand.
Sir,
Downing Street, June 23, 1880.
I HAVE the honour to acquaint you, with reference to my predecessor's Circular despatch of the 21st October last, that the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad hope shortly to arrive at a stage of their inquiry when they will wish to be informed of the views entertained by the Governments of the Colonies upon the following among other points:-
1. The defence of ports and their armaments.
2. The raising and maintaining of local forces.
3. Naval defence; and they have suggested, with the view of securing this object,
that the Government of each Colony should depute someone to speak on its part to the Commission.
In accordance with this suggestion, invitations have been issned to the Governments of the principal Australasian Colonies, and of the Dominion of Canada, and of the Cape of Good Hope, to appoint Delegates to represent their views to the Commission during the course.of the present summer.
The Commission do not think that they will be able to hear witnesses from any other Colonics at present, but they have asked me to inform you that the circumstances of the Colony under your Government will not fail to receive consideration in due time, and that later on in their investigation they will be glad to receive evidence on behalf of your Government.
Sir,
I have, &c.
(Signed)
KIMBERLEY.
No. 24.
Colonial Office to Sir A. E. Kennedy, K.C.M.G., C.B.
Downing Street, June 25, 1880.
I AM directed by the Earl of Kimberley to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 20th May,† inclosing a copy of a telegram which you have received from the Colonial Secretary of Queensland, requesting you to represent the Colony before the Royal Com- mission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad; and I am to convey to you his Lordship's request that you will communicate to the Secretary to the Commis- sion the telegram which you have received, if you have not already done so.
(Confidential.)
Sir,
R. H. MEADE.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
No. 25.
Colonial Office to War Office.
Downing Street, June 25, 1880.
I AM directed by the Earl of Kimberley to transmit to you, for the consideration of Mr. Secretary Childers, a copy of a despatch from the Governor-General of Canada with reference to the question of raising a Canadian contingent for the Imperial reserve, together with a copy of a further despatch§ from the Marquis of Lorne, inclosing Memoranda by Sir Edward Selby Smyth and by Sir Patrick MacDougall on the subject.
(Signed) R. H. MEADE.
I am,
&c.
No. 42 of "Miscellanecus No. 39."
+ No. 7.
‡ No. 12.
§ No. 14.