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6651

5

186

SIR,

No. 6.

FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.

(Received January 3, 1901.)

[Answered by No. 23.]

Foreign Office, January 2, 1901. I DULY laid before the Marquess of Lansdowne your letter of the 28th ultimo,* transmitting the draft of a reference to the Law Officers of the Crown on the subject of the Draft Order in Council drawn up by Mr. Albert Gray, providing for the exercise of the Queen's Jurisdiction within the leased territory of Wei-Hai-Wei.

His Lordship thinks it important to explain to the Law Officers the reasons for which it was considered undesirable to adopt the view that Wei-Hai-Wei is a part of Her Majesty's Dominions.

As the matter is pressing, a Draft referencet has been prepared in this Depart- ment, and is transmitted, herewith, embodying an explanation on this point. It has also been thought advisable to furnish the Law Officers with a copy of the Minutes exchanged in May, 1899,† between the Marquess of Salisbury, myself, and Mr. Davidson on the subject.

I am to suggest that this Draft should be substituted for that prepared in your Department, if Mr. Secretary Chamberlain concurs in its terms.

The Draft Order in Council is returned herewith.

6651

I am,

&c.,

FRANCIS BERTIE.

SIR,

No 8.

COLONIAL OFFICE to ADMIRALTY.

!

[Answered by No. 10.]

Downing Street, February 28, 1901. WITH reference to your letter of the 7th December last, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain to transmit to you, to be laid before the Lords Commis- sioners of the Admiralty, the draft of an Order in Councilt making provision for the exercise of His Majesty's jurisdiction at Wei-hai-wei.

2. I am to explain that this draft Order was prepared in the first instance by Mr. Albert Gray, and, after consideration in the Foreign Office and this Department, has been finally revised by the Law Officers of the Crown, in consultation with Mr. Gray.

3. I am to ask that Mr. Chamberlain may be informed, at their Lordships' carliest convenience, whether they consider that any amendment in this Order is necessary to meet naval requirements.

4

4. As regards paragraphs 2 and 3 of your letter under reference, I am to point out that the reservation suggested by their Lordships can ultimately be made by Ordinance of the Commissioner, under Section 9 of the enclosed draft Order. It is presumed that their Lordships would desire that such legislation should follow generally the lines of the Gibraltar Order in Council of 7 March, 1898, and the regulations made thereunder. In this connexion I am to refer to your letter of the 1st October, 1898,† and previous correspondence.

5. As regards paragraph 4 of your letter, a reference will be made to the Com- missioner on the subject of the ownership of the quarries referred to.

6. I am to add that it is of importance that the draft Order, if approved, should

be submitted to His Majesty in Council at an early date.

7. I am also to ask that the enclosed draft may be returned to this Department, with your reply.

8. A similar letter has been addressed to the War Office.

No. 7.

I am,

&c.,

C. P. LUCAS.

SIR,

COLONIAL OFFICE to WAR OFFICE.

[Answered by No. 9.]

Downing Street, February 25, 1901. WITH reference to previous correspondence respecting the Civil Administration of Wei-hai-wei, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain to transmit to you, to be laid before Mr. Secretary Brodrick, the draft of an Order in Council making provision for the exercise of His Majesty's jurisdiction within the leased territory,

2. I am to explain that this draft Order was prepared, in the first instance, by Mr. Albert Gray, and, after consideration in the Foreign Office and this Department, has been lately revised by the Law Officers of the Crown, in consultation with Mr. Gray.

3. Before submitting this Order to His Majesty in Council, Mr. Chamberlain would be glad to know whether Mr. Brodrick considers that any amendment in the Order is necessary to meet military requirements.

4. I am further to ask that you will moye Mr. Brodrick to cause an answer to be returned to this letter at his earliest convenience, as it is important that the Order,

approved, should be submitted to His Majesty in Council at an early date.

5. It is requested that the draft Order enclosed may be returned to this Depart- ment, with your reply.

6.

A similar fetters has been addressed to the Admiralty.

9162

SIR,

No. 9.

WAR OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received March 13, 1901.)

War Office, London, S.W., March 12, 1901.

I AM directed by the Secretary of State for War to acknowledge the receipt of Colonial Office letter of 25th February, 6651/1901, containing the draft Order în Council relative to Wei-hai-wei, and to inform you that Mr. Brodrick has no amend- ment to propose.

The draft is returned herewith as requested.

10522

No. 10.

am, &c.,

E. W. D. WARD.

ADMIRALTY to COLONIAL OFFICE.

(Received March 23, 1901.) [Answered by No. 11.]

Admiralty, March 22, 1901.

My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, having had before them your letter of 28th ultimo, § No. 6651, accompanied by a draft of an Order in Council making provision for the exercise of His Majesty's jurisdiction at Wei-hai-wei, desire

§ No. 8.

• No. 1.

† Not printed.

‡ No. 7.

SIR,

I am, &c.,

C. P. LUCAS.

• Xo. 5.

↑ See pp. 29-32 of Eastern No. 72.

* Not printed.

§ No. 8.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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