CO885-(11-13) — Page 175

11410.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 885

11 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

!

MY LORD,

No. 869.

(GOLD COAST.)

LAW OFFICERS to COLONIAL OFFICE.

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

Temple, October 29, 1873. letter of the 24th instant stating, that with reference to the 1st paragraph in our report of the 20th instant with respect to the blockade recently instituted on the Gold Coast, in which it was stated that the so-called blockade was, if we understood the facts and situation of the enemy's territory and the territory either British or under British protection, a blockade of a friendly coast for the purpose of preventing a trade whether in military stores or in innocent goods with an enemy in the interior.

He (Mr. Holland) was directed by your Lordship to state that the facts, as far as your Lordship was informed, were that the principal porta, viz., Elmina, Secondee, Dixcove, and Axim, were held by us, but it was no doubt possible to land arms and munitions of war at other points, and the Ashantees and the majority of the Appolo- · nians who together occupy the windward coast were assisting the Ashantees more or less openly. The coast, therefore, could not be termed generally friendly, nor could the blockade be said to be established merely to prevent trade with an enemy in the interior, as the enemy or his allies are present on the coast itself. That Mr. Holland was further to observe that no part of the coast except the forts themselves is British territory in the strict sense of the term, though assumed to be part of the Protectorate. That he, Mr. Holland, was to request us to report to your Lordship whether this further information leads us to alter the opinion expressed in our report of the 20th instant, and whether, as a considerable part of the coast is practically in possession of our enemies, a blockade would be valid which excepted the ports or places in British or friendly possession.

And that he (Mr. Holland) was to add that an immediate answer was requested, as it would be desirable to transmit instructions to the senior naval officer on the station and Sir G. Wolseley at the earliest opportunity.

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

Report

That we have carefully considered the statement of facts contained in Mr. Holland's letter, and also the letter of the Lord Chancellor to your Lordship, and we see no reason for altering the opinion which we had the honour of submitting to your Lordship upon the case originally sent to us, and the invalidity of the blockade proclaimed or notified or established de facto by the military and naval authorities on the Gold Coast.

But a blockade limited to those parts of the coast which are in possession of the enemy would, in our opinion, certainly be valid as distinguished from a blockade of the whole coast by whomsoever occupied.

And we agree that no objection could be made to a declaration of blockade applicable to the coast line so defined as to exclude the forts and friendly territory on the coast.

We think a blockade of the coast excepting the forts or places in British or friendly possession would, unless those forts or places are expressly named and defined, be open to objection as vague and uncertain, and we would in preference to that course suggest that in sending instructions to the senior naval officer on the station and to Sir G. Wolseley in reference to notifying or establishing such a blockade as that above-named, those officers should be particularly instructed to define with precision the particular portions of the coast which they may deem it right to blockade as held by the hostile tribes, and to see that such blockade is effectively kept by a sufficient force present on the parts of the coast blockaded.

We have, &c., (Signed)

The Right Hon. the Earl Kimberley,

&c.

&o.

&c.

• No. 864.

J. D. COLERIDGE.

HENRY JAMES.

J. PARKER DEANE.

0 16278.-861.

25.--5/86.