CO882-(2-3) — Page 136

26

consider that all the ordnance mounted in the forts at present should be retained, with a supply of ammunition (say 300 rounds per gun), and the proper proportion of small stores.

"I also consider that the 12-pounder muzzle-loading brass guns should be retained, as also the 41-in. brass howitzers, pending further orders, from England.

"I do not consider that the 6-pounder brass guns, or the iron guns in the Depôt, will be of any service in this place.

"I have already forwarded a requisition to the Brigadier commanding for the ordnance at Fort Canning to be handed over to me, with 200 rounds per gun and stores in proportion.

"I have, &c.

(Signed) "H. L. TALBOT, Major, R.A.,

Commanding Royal Artillery, Straits District.

"Colonel Lovell, C.B.,

"Commanding Royal Engineers, Singapore."

APPENDIX R.

Letter from War Office to Colonial Office, dated 4th August, 1868, set out in full in this Case, Page 11.

27

to whom these letters were sent on the subject of the military stores in the Straits Settlements, which it was proposed that the Colonial Government should purchase.

His Grace will perceive that the Government of the Straits Settlements has purchased from the Madras Government certain miscellaneous stores, but that no allusion whatever is made to the purchase of the armaments, and that the Secretary of State for War is desirous that there should be

distinct understanding as to the way in which their cost, if they are retained, should be defrayed.

[Here follows the passage set out in the Case, page 13.]

Sir,

APPENDIX U (a).

Colonial Office to India Office.

Downing Street, November 26, 1869.

I am directed by Earl Granville to inclose a copy of a letter from the War Department; and I am to request that you will move the Secretary of State for India to inform his Lordship whether any decision has been arrived at with regard to the terms upon which the armaments in the Straits Settle- ments are to be transferred from the Indian to the Colonial Government.

I have, &c.

(Signed) F. R. SANDFORD.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference→→

ILLIC.O. 8

882

2

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

4th August, 1868;

6th April, 1869.

Sir,

APPENDIX S.

Sir H. Storks to the Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office.

War Office, April 6, 1869. I am directed by Mr. Secretary Cardwell to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 20th ultimo, transmitting a copy of a despatch from the Governor of the Straits Settlementa on the subject of the military stores taken over from the Indian Government.

In reply, I am to request that you will have the goodness to call the attention of Earl Granville to the terms of the letters from this Office of the 4th August and 6th November last, by which it will be seen that the Secretary of State for War was desirous of being informed, whether the Colonial Government, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, deemed it advisable to purchase the armaments, with the stores pertaining thereto, which had been retained as necessary for the defence of the Settlements, and the value of which was assumed to be about 22,0001.

Sir H. Ord, in his reply to the despatch from the Colonial Office on the subject, dated 18th November, 1868, details the proceedings which were adopted in taking over the military stores, and also refers to certain miscellaneous stores which were subsequently purchased of the Madras Govern- ment for Colonial purposes; but he makes no allusion whatever to the purchase of the armaments on account of the Colony, which was really the only question referred for the consideration of the Colonial authorities.

Mr. Cardwell is unable to determine the construction which should be placed on the silence of Sir H. Ord on this point,-whether it is to be regarded as an oversight, or whether it is to be con- aidered that the Governor abstained from expressing any opinion on the question of paying for the armaments, in consequence of the Colonial Governnient being bound to provide the requisite fortifica. tions for the security of the Colony under stipulations which were made at the time the transfer of the Straits Settlements to the Imperial Government was under consideration.

The latter conjecture would be consistent with the views expressed in the letter from the Colonial Office to this Department on the 21st April, 1889, which were to the effect that the Duke of Buckingham considers that the Imperial Governinent is under no obligation to furnish fortifications or their accessories in the Straits Bettlements; but, before communicating with the India Office as to the retention or the withdrawal of the armaments, Mr. Cardwell considers it necessary that there should be a distinct understanding as to the way in which their cost, if they are retained, should be defrayed; and he will be glad to learn whether any arrangements have been made which render it incumbent on the Colonial Government to provide the defences of the Colony, and whether that Government is pre- pared to take over the armaments and stores at the values assessed, which Mr. Cardwell has reason to believe are extremely moderate.

It is very desirable that the Government of India should be made acquainted with the arrange- ments finally resolved upon with as little delay as possible, and I am therefore to request that you will bring this question again under the consideration of Earl Granville, and that Mr. Cardwell may be favoured with an early reply.

I have, &c.

Sir,

Appendix T.

(Signed) H. K. STORKS.

Sir F. Rogers to the Under-Secretary of State, India Office.

Downing Street, April 27, 1869.

I am directed by Earl Granville to transmit to you, for the consideration of the Duke of Argyll, copies of two letters from the War Department and a copy of a despatch from Governor Sir H. Ord,

APPENDIX U (6).

India Office to Colonial Office.]

Sir,

India Office, December 3, 1869. I am directed by the Duke of Argyll to acknowledge your letter of the 26th ultimo, with inclosed reference from the War Office inquiring whether any decision had been arrived at by this Department as to the terms on which the armaments in the Straits Settlements should be transferred from the Indian to the Colonial Government.

In reply, I am to acquaint you, for the information of Earl Granville, that, on the 20th October last, a despatch was addressed to the Government of India on this subject, and that, on receipt of their reply, a further communication will be made to you.

Sir,

I am, &c.

(Signed)

HERMAN MERIVALE.

APPENDIX U (c).

War Office to Colonial Office.

War Office, November 28, 1870.

I am directed by Mr. Secretary Cardwell to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated 7th October, 1870, respecting the claim of the India Office for stores at the Straits Settlements; and I am to request that, as it is of great importance to this Department that an early settlement of the matter in question should be arrived at, you will move the Earl of Kimberley to have the goodness to again address the Duke of Argyll on the subject of Mr. Merivale's letter of 3rd December, 1869.

Sir,

I bave, &c. (Bigned) JOHN ADYE, Brigadier-General,

Director of Artillery.

APPENDIX V.

War Office to Colonial Office.

War Office, February 17, 1871.

I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 6th instant, on the subject of the transfer to the Colonial Government of the armaments and their equipments at the Straits Settlements.

In reply, I am to acquaint you, for the information of the Earl of Kimberley, that Mr. Cardwell is quite willing that the question of handing over the armaments, and of the extent of the equipments of the guns which should follow the armaments, shall be settled between the India Office and the Colonial Office, without further reference to the War Office, on the understanding that no stores forming the equipments of the armaments, and which are included in the India Office claim of 31,6482, shall remain in custody of Imperial officers, or be chargeable to Imperial funds.

I am, however, to point out that, in order to effect a final settlement of the India Office claim against the War Department, it will be necessary that Mr. Cardwell should be furnished with a full detail of the armaments and their equipments transferred to the Colonial Government, and the neces- sary instructions will be sent to the Control officer to carry out the transfer, in conjunction with the