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the Amoor region, with the object of supplying the local gold industry with American machinery, &c.

4. The extension of the Saghalien coal trade.

5. The cause of the continual decrease in the sale of Russian maqufactures in China, and to report on the competition in the interior of China against Russian tea merchants.

6. The possibility of introducing the sale of Japan tea in Russia.

7. To collect detailed statistics of the quantity of Russian, goods disposed of in the various markets of China and Japan, and to report on the manner in which trade is carried on in those places by other nationalities.

No. 137.

133

3. With the view, however, of impressing upon the Government of Canada the importance of adhering to the same description of armaments as are in use in the Imperial service, Sir Michael Hicks Beach would propose, if Colonel Stanley should concur, to send to the Governor-General copies of this correspondence, and he would propose at the same time to point out the desirableness of keeping Her Majesty's Government fully informed of the action which the Government of the Dominion may take in such matters, so as to prevent the delay which has occurred in the present instance through the imperfect knowledge on the part of Her Majesty's Government of the wishes and intentions of the Government of Canada, and of their having confided the duty of obtaining official informa- tion from Her Majesty's Government to a gentleman whose appointment has not been intimated to this Department.

ROBERT G. W. HERBERT.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

No. 139.

Sir,

Circular to Canada, Australasian Colonies, and Hong Kong.

Downing Street, February 21, 1880.

I HAVE the honour to transmit to you a copy of a letter from the Foreign Office,* inclosing a copy of a despatch from Mr. Plunkett, containing information with regard to the strength of the Russian squadron in the Pacific, under the command of Admiral Aslanbegow, and the objects for which it is supposed to have been reinforced, together with a copy of the instructions which the Marquis of Salisbury has addressed to Her Majesty's Representatives at Yedo and Peking, directing them to keep the Governors of the Australian Colonies informed of the movements of this squadron.

1

I request that you will furnish me with any information which may reach you respecting the Russian fleet.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

M. E. HICKS BEACH.

P.S.-I transmit to you a copy of a further lettert which has since been received from the Foreign Office, inclosing a copy of a despatch respecting the contemplated dispatch to the Pacific of certain vessels of the Russian volunteer fleet, and the mission of M. Skalkofsky to investigate the condition of Russian trade with China and Japan.

February 25, 1880.

Sir,

No. 138.

Colonial Office to War Office.

M. E. H. B.

Downing Street, February 24, 1880.

I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 6th instant, inquiring whether it is the wish of the Secretary of State that Captain E. Palliser should be afforded the facilities for which he has asked for visiting Woolwich Arsenal and procuring the necessary drawings of wrought-iron carriages and slides for certain guns which have been ordered by the Canadian Government; and at the same time you draw attention to the importance that all colonial armaments should be of such a description as would enable them to be used with the service stores and ammuni- tion, and you request to be informed whether the guns ordered by the Canadian Govern- ment will fulfil these conditions.

2. In reply, I am to request that you will inform Secretary Colonel Stanley that Sir Michael Hicks Beach believes that the guns ordered by the Canadian Government are those referred to in the Minute of the Dominion Privy Council, of which a copy was sent to the War Office in the letter from this Department of the 9th January last.§

Since, however, the receipt of your letter, Sir Michael Hicks Beach has received a further letter from Captain Palliser, a copy of which I am to inclose, which supplies further information respecting the guns, and in which it is stated that the projectiles used will be the same as those made at Woolwich. Sir Michael Hicks Beach therefore concludes that the guns will fulfil the conditions as to stores and ammunition referred to in your letter, and pas it would appear that the contract for their manufacture has been signed, he would recommend that Captain Palliser should be afforded the facilities for obtaining drawings for the carriages for the guns for which he has asked.

• No. 120.

† No. 138.

‡ No. 123.

$ No. 90.

| No. 124.

Sir,

Admiralty to Colonial Office.

I AM commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acknowledge the

Admiralty, February 24, 1880. receipt of your letter of the 9th ultimo, forwarding, for the information of their Lordships, copy of correspondence relative to a proposal of the Government of Canada that certain smooth-bore guns now in the Dominion should be converted on the Palliser system for the defence of the Colony.

Sir,

I am, &c.

(Signed)

ROBERT HALL.

No. 140.

Colonial Office to Admiralty and Secretary of Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad.

I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, to be laid

Downing Street, February 24, 1880. before the

Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, a copy of a letter from the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, apprizing him, in view of the possibility of the Imperial Government, or the Government of any one of the Australian Colonies desiring to secure the establishment, of their inten- tion to dispense with their coaling-station at Albany, King George's Sound.

Before forwarding copies of the letter from the Company to the Governments of the Australian Colonies, Sir Michael Hicks Beach would be glad to be informed [ whether their Lordships have any wish to purchase the property in question];

[§ whether the Commission desire to make any suggestions at present in the matter to which it relates. It is to be observed that if a store of coal ceases to be kept at King George's Sound the question of its defence will become far less urgent.]

Lords

I am to state that this question has been also referred to the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad. Commissioners of the Admiralty.

Sir,

I am, &c.

(Signed)

ROBERT G. W. HERBERT.

No. 141.

Colonial Office to Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company.

Downing Street, February 24, 1880.

I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 14th instant,|| stating that the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Naviga

§ To Royal Commission only.

* No. 90.

[1093]

† No. 125.

To Admiralty only.

|| No. 125.

2 N

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

4 ILLICO. 885

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