1
(Secret and Confidential.)
124
No. 231.
Colonial Office to War Office.
Sir,
Downing Street, July 11, 1878. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, to be laid before Secretary Colonel Stanley, a copy of a despatch from the Governor-General of Canada, inclosing a copy of an approved Report of the Privy Council_relative to the defence of the principal Canadian Atlantic ports, together with a copy of a Report prepared by Lieutenant-General Sir E. S. Smyth, K.C.M.G., Commanding the Militia.*
2. As soon as Sir Lintorn Simmons returns from Berlin, Sir Michael Hicks Beach, proposes to refer this despatch to the Colonial Defence Committee for any observations which their experience may lead them to offer, and which may be communicated to the Dominion Government, before the guns now applied for are actually ordered, as it is possible that they may then see reason to modify their decision. Meanwhile Sir Michael Hicks Beach would be glad to be informed how soon after the date of order, and at what price, the seventeen 1-pounder 58-cwt. converted guns and ammunition could be supplied, if required.
I am, &c.
(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,
(Signed)
No. 232.
Colonial Office to Admiralty.
R. H. MEADE,
Downing Street, July 11, 1878.
I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to acknowledge the receipt of your Confidential letter of the 28th ultimo,† on the subject of the defence of Sierra Leone, Barbados, and Jamaica.
2. I am to request that you will state to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that Sir Michael Hicks Beach, looking at the subject from a Colonial point of view, has not felt able to urge the provision of the defences recommended by the Colonial Defence Committee for Sierra Leone as a matter of equally pressing importance with those of other Colonial ports. The sum required for its defence (18,2001.) is considerable, and the finan- cial condition of Sierra Leone would not admit of any portion of the cost being charged on Colonial funds. It is of course open to their Lordships, should they think fit to do so, to bring the great importance of Sierra Leone as a coaling station under the consideration of the Treasury, with a view to the provision of the necessary funds for its defence.
I am, &c. (Signed)
No. 233.
R. H. MEADE.
(Secret and Confidential.)
Sir,
125
No: 234.
Colonial Office to War Office.
Downing Street, July 13, 1878. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, to be laid before Secretary Colonel Stanley, a copy of a letter from Sir Julius Vogel,* the Agent- General for New Zealand in this country, stating that his Government wish to obtain two more converted 64-pounder guns, if they can be had on reasonable terms.
2. I am to request to be informed what answer should be returned to Sir Julius Vogel's two questions.
I am, &c. (Signed)
R. H. MEADE.
No. 235.
-(Registered
Governor Hennessy, C.M.G., to the Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart.-{ (Confidential.)
July 13.)
Sir,
Government House, Hong Kong, May 24, 1878. IN dealing with the general question of Colonian defence, or in considering how far Her Majesty's possessions abroad might be of Imperial assistance, there is a special feature in this Colony that is perhaps worthy of the attention of Her Majesty's Government. I refer to the possibility of utilising Hong Kong as a recruiting ground for raising Chinese regiments for the Queen's service.
2. Having had some experience of West Indian regiments in Africa as well as in the West Indies, and having also seen the value of other native corps in different parts of the world, I believe the Colonies contain within themselves what might be made in every case efficient elements of defence, but in some cases also a not insignificant adjunct to the strength of the regular army.
3. Under European officers the Chinese would probably be found as amenable to strict discipline and as courageous in the face of the enemy as any Colonial soldiers.
4. Though the Chinese who are residents under this little Government amount only to about 130,000, yet the total number that pass through this Colony in a year cannot be far short of 700,000.
5. With a proper recruiting system I venture to think it might be possible to raise at least 20,000 Chinamen of good physique for service in India, or, indeed, in any part of the world.
6. I need hardly add that I have not mooted this subject here in any way; nor have I thought it prudent to call for reports, or to make inquiries even indirectly bearing upon it. If, however, you instruct me to do so, I would be happy to get the requisite facts together and submit them, confidentially, to General Donovan, so that he may be able to prepare a practical report on the scheme.
J. POPE HENNESSY.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
No. 236.
Colonial Office to War Office.
(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,
Colonial Office to Admiralty.
Downing Street, July 11, 1878.
1 AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, to be laid before the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, a copy of a despatch from the Governor of the Bahamas, in reply to Sir Michael Hicks Beach's Secret Circular despatch of the 20th March last,§ of which 1 also inclose a copy, conveying to the Governors of Colonies instructions as to the measures to be taken in the event of any outbreak of war. A copy of a further despatch from the Governor on the same subject is also inclosed.
2. Looking to the position of the Bahamas, and to the fact that the Colony has no means of providing the funds necessary for any effective defensive measures, Sir Michael· Hicks Beach is of opinion that it is highly important that a gun-boat should continue to be stationed at Nassau, and he trusts that their Lordships will be able to give instructions for this purpose.
I am, &c.
(Secret and Confidential.)
Sir,
I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to request that you will
Downing Street, July 15, 1878. iuform Secretary Colonel Stanley that he has received a despatch, by last mail, from the Governor of New Zealand, expressing a hope that no delay will have occurred in shipping the armament and ammunition for that Colony, and I ani to request that you will favour Sir Michael Hicks Beach with an early reply to the letter from this Department of the 27th May last on the subject.†
I am, &c.
R. H. MEADE.
(Signed)
R. H. MEADE.
• No. 217.
↑ No. 213.
No. 191.
§ No. 15.
¡No. 190.
• No. 230.
[793]
(Signed)
+ No. 132.
R
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
HC.O. 885
4
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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