CO882-(4-5) — Page 144

Eastern,

No. 48.

Straits Settlements, No. 411.

SIR,

Downing Street,

December 13, 1889.

REFERRING to previous correspondence relating to the defences of the Colony under your Government, I have now the honour to address you respecting the sums which Her Majesty's Government think should be paid by the Straits Settlements as their share of the cost of the increased garrison, and which it will be your duty to invite the Legislative Council to provide.

2. The forts which the Colony so readily agreed to construct in 1885, at an estimated cost of 75,000%., and which it has, in fact, constructed at a cost of 81,000%, are to be armed, as you are aware, at the cost of the Imperial Government. The armament originally proposed was to have cost 49,000, but this sum is far below the actual cost of the heavier guns which, at the request of the Colony, will have been supplied, and which will have cost 121,9147., or nearly 73,0007. more than was at first contemplated.

8. These forts and guns and the complementary submarine defences will

require a garrison of about—

2 Batteries Royal Artillery

Royal Engineers

1 Battalion Infantry

Permanent Auxiliary Artillery

29

Minera

-

248 all ranks.

88

"

1,013

ມາ

120

Engineers, Submarine

50

1,519

'│:「 ། ་། །

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

التسليتنا

Reference :-

C.O. 882

5

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

exclusive of staff and departmental establishments, to which must be added a Commanding Royal Engineer, with the necessary staff, if, as is proposed, the military authorities take charge of and maintain the military works and buildings. The details of this garrison will be found in Appendix A. to this Despatch, and the details of their cost (136,154. per annum) in Appendix B. In addition, the local volunteer force, which has been raised with much public spirit, will form an appreciable element of further strength.

4. The incidence of this cost has been very fully considered by the various departments concerned; and as in the end a difference of opinion was found to exist between the Colonial Office, the Treasury, and the War Office, the matter was dealt with in conference by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Secretary of State for War, and myself; and Her Majesty's Government have decided that the Colonial contribution should, in this and the next four years, be based on the following rates.

5-(a.) In 1889 the same contribution as hitherto, vis., 50,145, but to be paid in sterling, or, if so agreed, in dollars at the Treasury rate of exchange; with a further sum of 28,9767. to be paid in the same way, being one half of the loss which has fallen upon the Imperial Exchequer, owing to the military contribution having in past years been paid in dollars at 48. 3d. instead of in sterling.

Details of this loss will be found in Appendix C. to this Despatch.

In addition to these two sums, which together amount to 79,1217., the Colony to bear any cost incurred up to the 31st December 1889 for the repair and maintenance of military works and buildings.

U 61045. 30-12/00. G. 39. L. & S.

A