CO885-(11-13) — Page 124

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

EPERMC.O. 885

11 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

" or to much such other arrangements as the holders of the bonds may be

prepared to accept"!

"

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

Report,

That we are of opinion that the debentures issued in 1868 were such as the Colonial Government could legally issue under the Act above referred to (30 Vict. c. 22). We think that the objection as to their form is not maintainable, and that the Government had authority to issue debentures payable at a day certain.

2. It is not necessary to answer this question.

وا

The Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley, K.G.,

Jo.

&c.

&c.

D

We have, &c. (Signed)

J. D. COLERIDGE.. G. JESSEL.·

A

4865.

MY LORD,

No. 818.

(GOLD COAST.)

LAW OFFICERS to COLONIAL OFFICE.

We were honoured with your Lordship's commands, signified in Mr. Holland's

Temple, May 15, 1873. letter of the 8th May instant, stating that he was directed by your Lordship to transmit

to us the copy of a Despatch which had been received from the Officer Administering 25 March the Government of the West Africa Settlements, and to refer us to that part of it in 1873. which it is stated that "large quantities of arms and ammunition were being landed No. 30. "from English vessels for sale to the Ashantees, and that one ship, the

66

46

, master, had landed no less than 150 cases of muskets and 200 barrels

of powder." 2nd. That it would be seen that Assines, which lies to the west of Her Majesty's Settlement on the Gold Coast, is a port under French protection, and cannot, therefore, be affected by any proclamation of the officer administering the government of that Settlement, or by any local British Ordinance, but should the present war between the Ashantees and the tribes of the British Protectorate continue, it might become neces- sary for Her Majesty's, Government to endeavour by such ineans as they are advised they may legally adopt to check the importation into Assinee or other West African ports of arms and ammunition, which readily find their way into the hands of the Ashantees, and thus enable them to prolong the war.

3. That in these circumstances Mr. Holland further stated he was to request that we

would report to your Lordship what steps, by Royal Proclamation or otherwise, can be properly taken by Her Majesty's Government to stop the importation by British subjects or in British vessels arms and ammunition into Assinee or any other neighbouring port outside the limits of Her Majesty's Settlement on the Gold Coast.

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

on the Gold

Report

That Her Majesty's Government cannot, in our opinion, take any steps to stop the importation by British subjects or in British vessels of arms and ammunition into Assine of adott other than to obtain the joint offices of friendly powers to prevent other neighbouring port outside the limits of Her Majesty's Settlement the importation and sale of arms and ammunition into and out of their territory, and to prevent by all means within the power of the local government the sale of arms and ammunition to the Ashantees.

J. D. COLERIDGE.

We have, &c. (Signed)

&c.

The Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley,

&c.

&c.

G. JESSEL.

J. PARKER DEANE.

0

16278-84.

25.--5/86.

1