CO885-(10-11) — Page 758

11195.

No. 605.

(BAHAMAS)

LAW OFFICERS to FOREIGN OFFICE.

MY LORD,

Temple, October 4, 1869. We are honoured with your commands, signified to us in Mr. Hammond's letter of the 23rd of September last, stating that he was directed by your Lordship to transmit to us a letter from the Colonial Office, enclosing copies of a letter and its enclosures from the Governor of the Bahamas, with reference to a request made by the Spanish Consul at Nassau to issue a proclamation similar to that of the Governor of Jamaica prohibiting the exportation of arms and munitions of war from that island, and he was to request that we would take this matter into our consideration, and inform your Lordship whether, in our opinion, it would be advisable to direct the Governor of the Bahamas to procure, if possible, the passing of a law to prevent the exportation of contraband of war from that Colony.

In obedience to your Lordship's commands, we have the honour to

Report

That the question referred to us by your Lordship involves, in our opinion, conside- rations of policy as well as of law; but assuming Her Majesty's Government to consider that on grounds of policy no objection can arise, we are of opinion that it would be advisable in point of law that there should be conformity in the legislation of Colonies in such close vicinity to each other as Jamaica and the Bahamas, and that the Governor of the Bahamas may be properly instructed to procure the passing of a law to give him the like powers of preventing the exportation of arms, ammunition, &c. from that Colony to those which it appears that the Governor of Jamaica has been authorised by the legislation of that island to exercise in regard to Jamaica.

The Earl of Clarendon,

&o. &c.

&o.

We have, &c. (Signed)

R. P. COLLIER.

J. D. COLERIDGE.

TRAVERS TWISS.

16974-197. 95-5/86

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

19

C.O. 885

Reference :-

11 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO