CO885(3-4) — Page 263

Sir,

26

No. 57.

H. Jekyll, Esq., R.E., to Colonial Office.

War Office, April 29, 1878.

I AM desired by the Committee on Colonial Defence to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 27th instant,* transmitting the copies of their Reports enumerated therein, for the use of the Committee.

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Beach has telegraphed to the Governor of New Zealand for the purpose of ascertaining, before any steps are taken for carrying out these recommendations of the Committee, whether the Colonial Government will undertake the expense.

Their Lordships will observe that defensive measures have already been taken by the remaining Australasian Colonies.

I

am, &c.

(Signed)

R. H. MEADE.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

H. JEKYLL.

No. 58.

No. 61.

Colonial Office to War Office.*

h

The Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart., to Governor Sir H. F. B. Maxse, K.C.M.G.

(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,

Downing Street, April 30, 1878.

I HAVE the honour to transmit to you, for your information, the accompanying copy of the Report, as regards Heligoland,t of a Committee appointed to consider the best measures to be taken for the temporary defence of the Colonies in the event of war, and I shall be glad to receive, at your earliest convenience, any observations which you may have to make on the inclosed Report.

(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,

I have, &c. (Signed) M. E. HICKS BEACH.

No. 59.

Colonial Office to Treasury.

Downing Street, April 30, 1878. IN continuation of my letter of the 20th instant, on the subject of the measures recommended by the Colonial Defence Committee for the temporary defence of stations involving Imperial interests in the event of war, I am directed by Sir Michael Hicks Beach to transmit to you, for the consideration of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, the accompanying copy of the Report of the Committee as regards the Colonies noted in the margin.t

I am also to inclose a copy of a letter to the War Office and Admiralty on the subject.

Sir Michael Hicks Beach is not aware that Imperial interests are specially involved in the defence of St. John's, Newfoundland; and he therefore proposes to ascertain, before any steps are taken for carrying out the recommendations of the Committee, whether the Government of Newfoundland will bear the expense.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

R. H. MEADE

(Secret and Confidential.)

Sir,

Downing Street, April 30, 1878. I AM directed by Sir Michael Hicks Beach to transmit to you, for the consideration

of the Secretary of State for War, the accompanying copy of the Report of the Colonial Defence Committee as regards the Colonies noted in the margin.t

2. The Governor of Heligoland is expected to arrive in England shortly, and Sir Michael Hicks Beach thinks that it may be convenient to defer the suggestions respecting that Colony till then.

3. Sir Michael presumes that the works commenced by the War Department at St. Helena will be completed, and that in the meantime the rope mantlets recommended by the Committee will also be provided by the same Department.

4. He is unable to pronounce a confident opinion as to the importance of the defence of Sierra Leone, but, subject to the views of the War Office and Admiralty on a point on which those two Departments are most competent to judge, he is disposed to think that it may be, for the present, postponed to that of more important points.

5. It is almost needless to observe that it is impossible for any of these three Colonies to contribute for its defence.

6. Sir Michael recommends, for the consideration of the Military and Naval Depart- ments, the suggestions of the Committee for the defence of Bridgetown, Kingston, and and Port Royal, subject to future consideration as to the apportionment of the expense between the Imperial and Colonial Governments. He will communicate with the Governors of Jamaica and Barbados as to the organization of a local force.

7. Sir Michael is not aware that Imperial interests are specially involved in the defence of St. John's, Newfoundland, and he therefore proposes to ascertain the wishes of the Colonial Government before any steps are taken for carrying out the recommenda- tions of the Committee.

8. Sir Michael Hicks Beach will be glad to be informed whether, in the opinion of the Secretary of State for War, there is any further question connected with the defence of Colonial ports which should be referred for the consideration of the Committee.

9. I am to annex a printed correspondence including that relating to the proposal for an additional force at Heligoland.

I am, &c. (Signed) R. H. MEADE.

No. 60.

No. 62.

D

(Secret and Confidential.)

Colonial Office to Treasury.

Sir,

Downing Street, April 30, 1878. WITH reference to the letter from this Office of the 20th instant, on the subject of the measures recommended by the Colonial Defence Committee for the temporary defence of the Cape and Eastern Colonies in the event of war, I am directed by Sir Michael Hicks Beach to transmit to you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, the accompanying copy of the Report of that Committee as regards the Australasian Colonies, § in which they recommend works and armaments costing 44,000l., for the defence of various points in New Zealand.

I am to add that these stations, not coming under the category of those the cost of whose protection would appear properly to fall on Imperial funds, Sir Michael Hicks

• No. 55.

+ Miscellaneous, No. 35 c."

§ Miscellaneous, No. 35 a."

No. 45.

The Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart., to the Governors of Barbados and (Secret and Confidential.)

Sir,

Jamaica.

Downing Street, April 30, 1878,

I HAVE the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of the Report, as regards the Colony under your government, of a Committee consisting of Sir Alexander Milne, Sir Lintorn Simmons, and Sir Henry Barkly, appointed to consider the measures to be taken for the temporary defence of the more important Colonial ports in the event of war.t

2. I have recommended, for the consideration of the Military and Naval Depart- ments, the works and armaments suggested by the Committee, subject to future consi- deration, as to the apportionment of the expense between the Imperial and Colonial Governments.

* A similar letter was addressed to the Admiralty.

[393]

† Miscellaneous, No. 33c.

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