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72

I am to say that the instructions ont uned in this letter give effect to recomEL mendations contained in Colonial Defence Committee Memorandum, No 364 M

I have, &c..

2.

You will observe that it has been decided that in future no European infantry will be stationed in the island.

I have, &c.,

ELGIN

E. W D WARD

34396

Secret }

SIR,

Enclosure in No 99.

War Office, London, SW, 19th July, 1906

I AM Commanded by the Army Council to inform you that it has been decided that in future no British infantry will be quartered in Ceylon, the infantry defence of Colombo being entrusted to one native battalion froin India and the Ceylon Volunteers

The whole of the artillery and engineer garrison required will eventually be composed of British troops of the Regular Army, the Ceylon portion of the native Ceylon Mauritius Battalion, Royal Garrison Artillery, being disbanded.

The estab- lishment of the European Royal Garrison Artillery in Ceylon will be adjusted to the manning requirements of the revised armament of Colombo. No change will be made in the existing establishment until the report of General Owen's Committee on armaments, which is about to visit Colombo, has been considered.

A further communication on the subject of this letter will be addressed to you in due course.

(Secret.)

No. 102.

CEYLON.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

(Received 17 September, 1906.)

[Copy to War Office, 21 September, 1906. L.F.]

MY LORD,

The Queen's House, Colombo, Ceylon, 29th August, 1906. WITH reference to your Lordship's secret despatch of the 31st July last,* I have the honour to enclose a copy of a communication from the Chief Staff Officer.

I have, &c.,

HENRY A. BLAKE,

Governor, &c.

The General Officer

Commanding the Troops,

Ceylon.

27104

(Secret)

SIR,

No. 100

MAURITIUS.

I have, &c.,

E. W. D. WARD

THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR

Downing Street, 31st July, 1906.

I HAVE the honour to forward to you the enclosed copy of a letter from the War Office from which you will observe that it has been decided materially to reduce the garrison of Mauritius, in view of the fact that its maintenance at its present strength is no longer justifiable either on political or on strategical grounds.

I have, &c..

ELGIN

Enclosure in No. 102.

(Confidential. No. 523.)

SIR,

Military Headquarters, Colombo, 23rd August, 1908.

I HAVE the honour to forward, for the information of His Excellency the Governor, a copy of War Office letter, Secret, dated 19th July, 1906.†

I beg to add that a telegram was received from War Office this day, saying that the information need no longer be kept secret.

To the A.D.C. to

His Excellency the Governor, Ceylon.

47180

I have, &c.,

C. BALLARD, Major,

Chief Staff Officer.

No. 103.

27103

(Secret.)

SIR,

No. 101.

CEYLON,

THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR. [Answered by No. 102.]

Downing Street, 31st July, 1906. WITH reference to my predecessor's Confidential despatch of September 15th,t I have the honour to forward to you a copy of a letter from the War Office with regard to a proposed reduction of the garrison of Ceylon.

• No. 98.

† No. 81.

‡ No. 99.

(Extract.) (No. 449.)

MY LORD,

STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

(Received December 22, 1908.)

[Answered by No. 106.]

>

Government House, Singapore, November 29, 1906.

42. Military Expenditure. For the purpose of the calculation only the net revenue from Christmas Island has, as approved in Colonial Office despatch, No. 27, of the 28th January last,‡ been counted as revenue assessable to the contribution, and

• No. 101.

↑ Enclosure in No. 99.

‡ No. 91.

I

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TEC.O. 882

6

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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