CO885(3-4) — Page 250

Printed for the use of the Colonial Office. June 1, 1878.

SECRET AND CONFIDENTIAL.

Correspondence respecting the Defences of the Colonies.

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(Confidential.) Sir,

No. 1.

Colonial Office to War Office

Downing Street, February 16, 1878.

I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to request that you will suggest to the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that many of the more important Colonial ports are now unprovided with any adequate system of defence, it would not be advisable to cause an inquiry to be held and a report to be made as to the most pressing requirements of this nature, and the best means of meeting them in any sudden emergency; in order that Her Majesty's Government may be in a position to consider any demands from the Colonies for assistance in this matter, and any action that it may be necessary to take on the subject.

If Mr. Hardy should be disposed to instruct a military officer to consider the question in conjunction with a naval officer appointed by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, Sir Michael Hicks Beach would be happy to direct one of the Under-Secretaries of this Department, either to confer with them or to give such information as the Colonial Office possesses.

It is understood that Sir W. Jervois will arrive in this country on leave from South Australia in the course of next month, but it may be inconvenient to postpone until after his arrival the adoption of any temporary measures which might be decided on as immediately practicable, pending the more complete and thorough consideration of the whole question.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

ROBERT G. W. HERBERT.

No. 2.

War Office to Colonial Office.

(Confidential.) Šir,

War Office, February 19, 1878. IN reply to your letter of the 16th February,* I am directed to acquaint you, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that Mr. Hardy concurs in the proposal that an inquiry should be held as to the defences of the more important Colonial ports, and that he has nominated General Sir J. Lintorn A. Simmons, Inspector General of Fortifications, to represent this Department on the Committee of Officers appointed to hold this inquiry.

I

&c. am, (Signed) J. C. VIVIAN.

تشر

[593]

• No. 1.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

mmimmimC.O. 885

4 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

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