52
39
Colonial Defence Committee will take into consideration and favour him with their views on the defence of Freemantle and the entrance to Swan River, in the event of the outbreak of hostilities.
I have, &c. (Signed)
R. H. MEADE.
No. 121.
{
53
No. 123.
The Earl of Dufferin to the Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart.—(Recrived May 22.)
(Confidential.) Sir,
Government House, Ottawa, May 7, 1878.
On the 4th instant* I had the honour of sending you a telegraphic message in cypher, a copy of which I inclose, drawing attention, in view of the serious aspect of European affairs, to the defenceless state of the sea-board of the Dominion.
I now beg to forward herewith a copy of a Report of a Committee of the Privy Council, on which my telegram was founded.
To the Governors of South Australia and Western Australia.
(Secret.)
Downing Street, May 22, 1878.. 8ir,"
WITH reference to my Secret and Confidential despatch of the 26th ultimo,* 1 have the honour to acquaint you that I have ascertained from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that their Lordships do not recommend the retention of a coal depot for the Royal Navy at King George's Sound. I also understand that the Peninsular and Oriental Company have at present only about 500 tons of coal at that place, and that their vessels practically have ceased to coal there, as they only maintain that supply to meet unforeseen emergencies. For this purpose it is believed that from 100 to 150 tons will be sufficient, In the event of war, and they may possibly see fit to reduce their stock to that amount. it will be desirable that the Company's steamers, which frequently carry very valuable freights, should not be exposed to additional risk of capture by hostile cruizers, by continuing to call at King George's Sound, as at present, in order to deliver the Western Australian mails.
Should war, therefore, at any time break out, it may probably become necessary to request the Company to carry the mails direct to Adelaide, and to make other arrangements for the conveyance of Western Australian mails. It has been suggested that for this purpose a local steamer should be provided which, if devoted exclusively to the conveyance of mails, and therefore carrying little or no cargo, might be able to make the run from Adelaide to Perth, or whatever other point may be adopted as the Western Australian terminus, without coaling on the way. It will also be desirable, in the event of war, and of the Peninsular and Oriental steamers ceasing to call at King George's Sound, that the Western Australian Government should depute some trustworthy officer to take stock of the coal remaining on hand, and that the coal itself should be removed inland, or to some other Australian port, or in extreme emergencies (as to which a further communi- cation would of course be made to you), should be destroyed in order to prevent hostile vessels from replenishing their supply of coal, and thus being able to continue their depredations along the Australian coasts.
I request that you will confer with the Governor of Western Austruha (South Australis) to whom I have addressed an identical despatch, and that you will report to me what appear to be the best arrangements that can be made for the conveyance of the Western Australian mails, and for the disposal of the coal at King George's Sound, in the event of the outbreak of hostilities.
I am, &c. (Signed)
M. E. HICKS BEACH.
No. 122. /
Inclosure in No. 123.
I have, &c. (Signed)
DUFFERIN,
Report of a Committee of the Honourable the Privy Council, approved by his Excellency the Governor-General on the 4th May, 1878.
THE Committee of Council have had before them a Memorandum from the Honourable the Minister of Militia and Defence, having reference to the threatening relations now existing between Great Britain and Russia, and recommending that your Excellency be pleased to communicate by cable with the Imperial Government, drawing attention to the defenceless condition of our Atlantic sea-board, and the danger to the shipping interest of the Empire, should war be declared, without ample provision being made for defence, and submitting that a fleet of fast cruizers would be absolutely necessary for protection.
The Committee concur in the foregoing recommendation, and submit the same for your Excellency's approval.
Certified, (Signed) W. A. HIMSWORTH,
No. 124.
Clerk, Privy Council, Canada.
The Earl of Dufferin to the Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart.—(Received May 22.) (Confidential.)
Sir,
Government House, Ottawa, May 8, 1878.
I HAVE the honour to transmit to you herewith, for the information of Her Majesty's Government, a copy of a confidential communication addressed to the Minister of Militia and Defence, by Lieutenant-General Sir Edward Selby Smyth, K.C.M.G., Commanding the Militia, relating to the defence of the sea-ports of the Dominion.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
Inclosure in No. 124.
DUFFERIN.
Colonial Office to Admiral Sir A. Milne, G.C.R.
(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,
Downing Street, May 22, 1878. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, for any observations which the Colonial Defence Committec may have to offer with reference to their Report on the defence of Ceylon, inclosed in your letter of the 4th April last,† a copy of a despatch from Sir J. R. Longden, in reply to Sir Michael Hicks Beach's Secret Circular, dated the 20th March, on the subject of the defence of the Colonies, a copy of which wa transmitted to the Colonial Defence Committee in a letter from this Department of the 2nd April last.
I am, &c. (Signed)
• No. 53.
R. H. MEADE.
† Miscellaneous, No. 35.
(Confidential.)
Sir,
Ottawa, May 3, 1878.
THE arrival of the steamer "Cimbria" in the port of Ellsworth, State of Maine, with 60 Russian officers and 600 seamen, shipped in a Russian port in the Baltic, gives rise to surmises as to the object of her mission at this time in American waters.
It is asserted her crew are intended to man fast steamers to be purchased in America, and under the Russian pennant. These would to all intents and purposes become Russian men-of-war, intended, doubtless, to pursue and capture British traders and mail steamers in all parts of the Atlantic, in the event of a declaration of war.
It is stated the "Cimbria" has a cargo of heavy guns for naval service, and quan- tities of rifles and ammunition for troops on shore.
* No. 72.
PEPELTI
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 885
4
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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