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Commander in-Chief on the East Indies Station relative to the dismantling of Trin- comalee. I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you, for the information of Mr Secretary Lyttelton, that this question has already received their Lordships' consideration.

I am, &c.

C. I. THOMAS

59

Conclusion.

The Commitee adhere to their previous decision (Minute 6 of the 63rd Meeting) that the garrison of Trincomali should be withdrawn.

23393

26597

No. 71

CEYLON

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

11th July, 1905. Major SELLY (Isle of Wight), on behalf of Lieutenant-Colonel Kemp (Lancashire. Heywood), asked the Secretary of State for War whether it was intended to abandon the military station at Trinkomali; and, if so, when and for how long.

Mr BROMLEY-DAVENPORT (Cheshire, Macclesfield), who replied, said: "It is intended to abandon Trinkomali for good as soon as the troops can be withdrawn.''

Major SEELY, on behalf of Lieutenant-Colonel Kemp, asked the Secretary of the Admiralty whether it was intended to abandon the naval station at Trinkomali. Mr PRETYMAN (Suffolk, Woodbridge), in reply, said: "This Yard was closed in April fast and will no longer be used in peace time. It can, however, be opened in war time should any special circumstances render this course necessary."

11

No. 73.

CEYLON.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR.

(Confidential.)

SIR,

Downing Street, 3 August, 1905. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your confidential despatch of the 5th of May,* with regard to the abandonment of Trincomalie as a naval station.

2. The considerations set forth by you and by the Commander-in-Chief of the East Indian Station have been duly considered, but it has now been finally decided to abandon Trincomalie for good as soon as the troops can be withdrawn. The Naval Yard will no longer be used in time of peace, but it can, however, be re-opened in war time should any special circumstances render this course necessary.

I have, &c.,

ALFRED LYTTELTON. -

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26597

SIR.

No. 72.

CEYLON.

COMMITTEE OF IMPERIAL DEFENCE 10 COLONIAL OFFICE.

(Secret.)

(Received 28 July, 1905)

Committee of Imperial Defence, 2, Whitehall Gardens,

London, S.W., 27th July, 1905.

I HAVE the honour to transmit, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, an extract from the minutes of the 75th Meeting of the Committee of Imperial Defence dated July 13th. 1905, regarding the withdrawal of the garrison of Trincomali.

2. Copies of this letter have been addressed to the War Office and the Admiralty

(Confidential.)

SIR,

No. 74.

CEYLON.

WAR OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.

(Received 28 August, 1905.)

[Answered by No. 77.]

War Office, London, S. W., 25th August, 1905.

I AM commanded by the Army Council to forward to you, for the information

of the Secretary of State for the Colonies. copies of correspondence that has taken place with the General Officer Commanding the Troops, Ceylon, relative to the defence of Trincomali in time of war.

I have, &c.,

R. H. BRADE.

(Secret.)

Enclosure in No. 72.

I have, &c.,

G. S. CLARKE,

Secretary.

EXTRACT from the Minutes of the 75th Meeting of the Committee of Imperial Defence, held on July 13th, 1905.

**

THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE GARRISON OF TRINCOMALI.

3. The Colonial Office submit for the consideration of the Committee a letter* from the Commander-in-Chief of the East Indian Station, urging a reconsideration of the proposal to withdraw the garrison from Trincomali. This letter contained no new facts or arguments.

• Enclosure in No. 68.

Enclosure 1 in No. 74.

WAR OFFICE.

Brigadier-General G. L. C. MONEY, Commanding the Troops. Ceylon, to the

(Confidential.)

SIR,

Headquarters, Colombo, 26th July, 1905.

I HAVE the honour to inform you that a meeting of the Local Defence Com- mittee was held on July 17th, 1905.

The Committee were acquainted with the decisions of the Army Council regard- ing the dismantling of Trincomali, and the withdrawal of the garrison in time of peace, but no intimation has been received from the Colonial Defence Committee as to their intentions regarding Trincomali in time of war.

I beg, therefore, that you will lay this letter before the Colonial Defence Committee and ask them that I may be informed whether any steps should be taken with a view to the reoccupation of Trincomali as a port of refuge in time of war.

I would point ont that their decision will considerably affect the local defence

• No. 62.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

C.O. 882

Reference :-

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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