CO885(3-4) — Page 369

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TILL CO. 885

4PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

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Turkey for the security of telegraphic intercourse, as a glance at the accompanying map

will show.

At the present time a message can be sent to Japan in less time, and with more certainty, through the Russian Telegraph Service established in Northern Asia than by our English sea routes; in war, the whole of our communication with China and Japan would be cut off, if the Egyptian line were interfered with, while the Russian means of telegraphing to their possessions and naval forces in the Pacific would be open.

I advocate, then, the early establishment of an alternative line of telegraph to the East, quite distinct from the present lines through Russia, Turkey, Persia, and the Red Sea, but, inasmuch as this cannot be accomplished until the first step is taken in the direction indicated, I submit to you, as of immediate absolute necessity, that a cable should be laid to connect England and Cape Town. The war on the frontier of the Cape Colony, and the politica! and commercial interests at stake there, sufficiently warrant a very grave concern in this matter.

The question to be settled is whether this cable should be laid on the western or on the eastern side of Africa.

In the "Times" of the 12th ultimo I called the attention of the public to the advan- tage of the western line, and on the following day Sir James Anderson wrote to the Times" advocating the route from Aden to Natal viâ Zanzibar. I beg to enclose to

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you copies of these two letters, with my observations upon Sir James Anderson's views, and I earnestly request that you will take the trouble to read them.

If the advantage of securing an additional and alternative telegraphic service by sea is admitted, and if it be advisable, as I think it is, to look forward to an extension to Mauritius, Aden (or Ceylon), and Australia, then there can be no doubt that the cable must be laid on the west side, either from St. Vincent to St. Helena and the Cape, in deep ocean, or to the Cape by way of the Gold Coast, to be carried thence by land lines, or by short stretches in comparatively shallow water, connecting the British West African settlements.

All controversy as to the value to this country of the western as compared with the enstern route can be easily settled by the appointment by Government of a Com- mission, which I venture to suggest should be forined of gentlemen from the Treasury, the Colonial Office, the Admiralty, and the War Office.

I admit that the enterprise cannot be carried out as a commercial undertaking without Government assistance, and I have urged that Her Majesty's Government, with the Colonies concerned (who are ready to assist), should establish or help to support the linc. It seems to me that there are much stronger arguments for Imperial support to a western than to an eastern service, but, taking it for granted that a Government Commission will be appointed to settle this point, I venture to propose :—

1st. That the Government itself shall undertake to contract and pay for the laying of

the cable; or

2nd. That the Government in conjunction with the Colonies concerned may do so; 3rd. That if the Government and the Colonies prefer to pay by a subsidy or guaranteed interest, a company shall be established to carry through the enterprise.

I submit also:—

4th. That it may be to the advantage of the Government and of the Colonies concerned (who would gladly assist in, one way or another) to provide two thirds or one half of the capital instead of granting a large subsidy, the Treasury to be represented on the board of the company.

It may be that the Government cannot at once arrange the whole scheme; I would therefore request that consideration might be given to my proposal for the laying of a cable between St. Vincent (Cape de Verdes) and Gorec, or between St. Vincent and Cape Coast Castle.

If laid to Goree the French Government are willing to pay a subsidy; if laid to Cape Coast Castle Her Majesty's Government would require to pay the whole subsidy. For the present it would be better to lay the cable to Goree (Her Majesty's Government paying a part of the subsidy), where the Cape Mail Steamers could call, and to lay land lines of telegraph thence to the British Settlements in West Africa, thus bringing thesc dependencies into instant communication with England.

The call at Goree would bring the Cape news in about twelve (12) days to this country.

I would only add the request that you will be good enough to read the accompanying copy of another letter of mine which appeared in the "Times" of the 19th ultimo, with

Jamaica.

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regard to the necessity for a telegraphic service connecting Bermuda, Halifax, and

I remain, &c. (Signed)

Right Hon. Sir Michael E. Hicks Beach, Bart., M.P.

SIR,

The "Times," February 12, 1878.

OUR TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS.

To the Editor of the "Times."

h

DONALD CURRIE.

THE cutting of the telegraphic lines in Turkey at this critical time may lead us to consider how we should be placed in event of a war, looking to the necessity for uninterrupted communication with our Eastern possessions.

We have means of telegraphing to India through Russia, Turkey, and Persia, not to speak of Italy and Continental States; there are also the submarine lines by way of the the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. At any moment the telegraph might be cut off from our control in Foreign States, while in the Red Sea there would be no difficulty in stopping communications.

In October 1875 I pressed upon the notice of Lord Carnarvon the advantage to be gained from an alternative telegraphic service by way of the Cape, and the necessity for establishment of direct telegraphic communication between England and South Africa. I argued that, in the event of an Eastern or a Caffre war, the value of such means of communication would be fully appreciated. I also showed the immense gain which the Government would secure in the control of the movements of our fleets, provided we had the means of telegraphing to the Gold Coast, St. Helena, and Simon's Bay.

I have now brought the subject before Sir Michael E. Hicks-Beach, M.P., who has succeeded Lord Carnarvon at the Colonial Office, and have pointed out that if the Government will not undertake the expense of linking the Cape with England by a direct cable, the cost of which the Cape Colony, Natal, and the Orange Free State would assist in defraying, there is a way in which the Cape can be brought within 11 or 12 days of England, that is, by laying a cable from the Cape Verd Islands to Goree, on the West African coast, at which port the Cape mail steamers might call, instead of at Madeira. The extension of the telegraph to the whole of the British West African settlements would be of immense value to us, both from a naval and a commercial point of view.

I beg to enclose for your information a copy of my letter to Lord Carnarvon, dated the 30th of October 1375, and a copy of the paper read by me on this subject before the Royal Colonial Institute in March last. May I call your special attention to what Sir Garnet Wolseley and the Admirals who were present said upon that occasion? I would also wish to draw attention to the fact that we have no telegraphic cominunication with Bermuda, an important naval station, and that in case of war we should have a cable between Halifax and Bermuda and between Bermuda and Jamaica. In this way the North American and West Indian squadrons might be communicated with, and a junction could be speedily effected, either with the Channel Fleet or with our war vessels stationed between England and the South of Africa. If I might venture to go further, I would say that it is of Imperial necessity that there should be telegraphic intercourse between the Cape and Mauritius, and between Mauritius and Aden. In this way all our naval stations would be effectively bound together.

3 and 4, Fenchurch Street, Feb. 8.

SIR,

The "Times," February 19, 1878. OUR TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS.

To the Editor of the "Times."

I am, &c.

DONALD CUrrie,

I WOULD strongly press the suggestion that Bermuda should be connected with Halifax by telegraph. In the event of war it will be absolutely necessary for the Admiralty to have communication with Bermuda, the winter headquarters of our North American and West Indian naval station, and the only place where we have a floating dock. At present Government can only correspond with Bermuda by Gulf steamers

G. 534.

D