CO882-(8-9) — Page 507

27104

71

6441

SIR,

No. 95.

STRAITS SETTLEMENTS

TREASURY to COLONIAL OFFICE

(Received 23 February, 1906.)

¦topy to Governor. 2 March, 1946.

Confidential. LF

Treasury Chambers, 22nd February, 1906. In reply to Mr. Lucas's letter (59×2 1906), of the 21st instant.* relative to the cost of certain proposed public works in the Straits Settlements, I am to request you to inform the Earl of Elgin that, provided the Army Council see no objection. the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury, for their part, are willing that, for the purpose of calculating the military contribution payable by that Colony, the proceeds of any special taxation imposed to meet the charges for interest and sinking fund on the loan which will be necessary to provide for the works shall be excluded from the revenue of the Colony, to the extent to which such proceeds are required for the service of the loan.

I am, &c..

G. H MURRAY

(Secret.)

SIR.

No. 98

MAURITIUS.

WAR OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.

(Received 24 July, 1906.)

War Office, London, S. W., 23rd July, 1906.

I AM Commanded by the Army Council to transmit, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, a copy of a letter which has been sent to the General Officer Commanding the Troops, Mauritius.

I am to say that the instructions contained in this letter give effect to recom- mendations contained in Colonial Defence Committee Memorandum, No. 364 M.

I have, &c.,

(Secret.)

SIR,

E. W. D. WARD.

7284

SIR,

No 96.

STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.

WAR OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.

(Received 1 March, 1906.)

topy to biovernor, 2 March, 1906.

Coonhnhal. L.E.]

War Office, London, S. W., 1st March, 1906. REFERRING to your letter of the 21st ultimo, No. 5982/06,* I am commanded by the Army Council to acquaint you that they agree that the proceeds of the special taxation to be levied in the Straits Settlements to provide for charges for interest and sinking fund in connection with the proposed river and harbour improvement should be excluded from revenue in calculating the military contribution payable by the Colony to the extent to which such proceeds are required for the service of the loan.

E W. D. WARD.

I have, &c.,

Enclosure in No. 98.

War Office, London, S.W., 19th July, 1906. I AM commanded by the Army Council to inform you that it has been decided Its maintenance at its present to materially reduce the garrison in Mauritius. strength is no longer justified on political and strategic grounds.

Not only has the question been affected by the more friendly relations now exist- ing between Great Britain and France, but the possibility of offensive operations from Madagascar and Réunion has been considerably diminished by reductions in the garrisons of those islands, resulting from the recent French policy of retrench- ment and concentration in their system of colonial defence.

Under present conditions the scale of defence of Mauritius need not exceed that which is necessary to provide against a raiding attack by not more than three or four unarmoured cruisers with a maximum landing force of 500 rifles, and, it has been decided that one British battalion with the Royal Garrison Artillery (includ- ing the companies of the Ceylon Mauritius battalion) and Royal Engineers required to man the armament and electric light defences, which will be revised in accordance with this modified scale of attack, will form a garrison sufficiently strong to defeat any such raid.

The two native Indian battalions will, therefore, be shortly withdrawn. further communication will be addressed to you on this subject in due course.

I have, &c.,

E. W. D. WARD.

A

6441

No. 97.

STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR.

(Sent 3.15 p.m., March 1, 1906.)

TELEGRAM.

Referring to your telegram of 18th February,† I approve proposals for special taxation, which will not be liable to military contribution so far as proceeds are required for service of the loan.

I must reserve my opinion as to proposed works until I receive explanations by mail.-ELGIN.

• No. 94.

↑ No. 93.

The General Officer

Commanding the Troops,

Mauritius.

27103

Zia 201

(Secret.)

SIR,

No. 99.

CEYLON.

WAR OFFICE to. COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received 24 July, 1906.)

[Answered by L.F. transmitting copy of No. 102.]

د

War Office, London, S.W., 23rd July, 1906.

I AM commanded by the Army Council to transmit, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, a copy of a letter which has been sent to the General Officer Commanding the Troops, Ceylon.

24658

4

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TLC.O. 882

9

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO