CO885(3-4) — Page 260

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

PELTICO. 885

J

(Secret and Confidential.)

Sir,

20

No. 42.

Colonial Office to Admiralty.

Downing Street, April 17, 1878. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, two copies of a letter from the Colonial Defence Committee inclosing the Report which they have completed on the temporary defences of the Cape of Good Hope, Mauritius, Ceylon, Singapore, and Hong Kong.*

2. I am also to inclose a copy of a further lettert from the Committee, stating that they have since become aware of the existence at Hong Kong of the guns therein men- tioned, and recommending that the temporary loan of the 7-inch and 64-pounder guns should be obtained from their Lordships, pending their replacement by the destined arnia- ment, or until they are required for Her Majesty's ships.

3. Sir Michael Hicks Beach would recommend compliance with this suggestion, and in order to save time he would be glad if the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty would be good enough, when replying to this letter, to notify their decision to the War Office, in order that the Secretary of State for War may take the necessary steps for mounting these guns.

4. I am to add that Sir Michael Hicks Beach has under his consideration the Committee's Report of the 4th instant."

I am, &c.

(Signed)

No. 43.

R. H. MEADE.

Admiral Sir A. Milne, Bart., G.C.B., to Colonial Office.

(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,

Committee Room, Whitehall, April 17, 1878. WITH reference to my letter of the 12th March,‡ I am requested by the Colonial Defence Committee to state, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies that in that letter, which was written at the commencement of their inquiry, they over- estimated the number of guns that will be required for the temporary defence of the more important Colonial ports.

The Australian Colonies having provided for their own defence, it will not be necessary to send out guns to them, as the Committee had at first expected.

The general result of their recommendations, therefore, with respect to guns,

7-ton guas 64-pr. rifled guna

Total

is

97

69

166

The War Department have ordered the despatch of thirty-four 64 ton 7-inch guns so that there will remain to be provided.

7-ton guns

64-pr. rifed guns

Total

63

69

139

I have, &c.

(Signed)

ALEX. MILNE, President.

21

for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that if any armed force is to be kept on shore at Heligoland, their Lordships assume that it would be provided by the War Department, and in that event they anticipate that it might be found necessary to withdraw the Coast-guard men, as their services would be required in the fleet.

(Confidential.) Bir,

I am, &c.

(Signed)

ROBERT HALL.

No. 45.

Colonial Office to Treasury.

Downing Street, April 20, 1878. I AM directed by Sir Michael Hicks Beach to state, for the information of the Lorda Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, that in February last, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State for War and the First Lord of the Admiralty, a Committee con- sisting of Admiral Sir Alexander Milne, Bart., G.C.B., General Sir Lintorn Simmons, K.C.B., K.G., and Sir Henry Barkly, G.C.M.G., was appointed to consider the temporary measures required for the defence of the Colonies in the event of war,

The attention of the Committee was directed in the first place to those stations involving most important Imperial, as well as Colonial, interests, without whose adequate protection there can be no security that Her Majesty's ships will be able to keep the sea or the protection of the commerce of Great Britain, or to prevent an enemy's fleet from annoying and harassing the Colonies.

On the 14th March the Committee recommended the immediate despatch of a supply of 64-ton guns to the Cape of Good Hope, Ceylon, Hong Kong, Mauritius, and the Straits, as coming under the above category, together with instructions for the preparation of the necessary emplacements. Sir Michael Hicks Beach understands that this recommendation is being carried out by the War Office.

I am now to transmit a copy of the complete Report of the Committee for the same Colonies.

The estimated cost of the proposed works and armaments for these Colonies, which

are the least that the Committee consider necessary, is 265,4001., or, excluding Port Elizabeth and the additional proposals for Singapore, 213,400.

I am to state that Sir Michael Hicks-Beach is decidedly of opinion that the recom- mendations of the Committee should be carried out as far as practicable, and with as little delay as possible; and considering that the question is not one solely of Colonial defence in the ordinary meaning of the term, but of the protection of Imperial interests or the greatest importance, he is also of opinion that the responsibility for the first cost of these measures should be undertaken by the Imperial Government, the apportionment of the expense between this country and the Colonies being left for future determination.

Sir Michael Hicks Beach is prepared to press upon the Colonies concerned the importance of bearing their fair share of the expense that will be incurred, and I am to transmit to you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, the accompanying copy of a letter* which the Secretary of State has caused to be addressed to the War Office with regard to the cost of the particular works recommended for Singapore.

I am also to request, having regard to the great risk of delay, that you will move the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to favour Sir Michael Hicks Beach with their views at the earliest possible moment.

I am, &c. (Signed) W. R. MALCOLM.

4 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,

No. 44.

Admiralty to Colonial Office.

Admiralty, April 17, 1878. WITH reference to your letter of the 12th instant§ containing a copy of a despatch from the Governor of Heligoland on the subject of the defence of that island in the event I am commanded by my Lords Cominissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you,

• Miscellaneous, No. 33.

+ No. 40,

t No. 8.

$ No. 39.

of

war,

(Confidential.)

Sir,

No. 46.

Colonial Office to War Office.

Downing Street, April 20, 1878.

WITH reference to the letter from this Office of the 15th March,† am directed by Sir Michael Hicks Beach to transmit to you the accompanying copy of the Report, as regards the Cape and the Eastern Colonies, of the Committee appointed to consider the temporary measures required for the defence of the Colonies in the event of war.

• No. 41.

† No. 13.

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