CO885-(11-13) — Page 425

No. 184c.

(CYPRUS.)

QUEEN'S ADVOCATE to FOREIGN OFFICE.

MY LORD,

I AM honoured by a letter of the 9th instant, addressed to myself, the Attorney-

Temple, September 12, 1878. General, and the Solicitor-General, by Sir J. Pauncefote, in which that gentleman informed us that he was directed by your Lordship to transmit to us the draft of an Order in Council constituting the office of High Commissioner and Commander-in- Chief over the Island of Cyprus, and making provision for the government of that Island; and also the drafts of a Commission and Instructions under the Royal Sign Manual and Signet, the former appointing Lieutenant-General Sir G. Wolseley to be Her Majesty's High Commissioner, and the letter regulating the exercise of the powers and authorities conferred on that office. That the above drafts were accompanied by an explanatory memorandum, and with copies of certain documents referred to. Sir J. Pauncefote also stated that he had to request that we would take the papers into our consideration, and favour your Lordship at our earliest convenience with our opinion as to whether the drafts of the proposed Order in Council, Royal Com- mission, and instructions were sufficient in law to carry out the objects indicated in the memorandum, and might properly be laid before the Queen for Her Majesty's approval.

In compliance with your Lordship's wishes, as signified in the above-mentioned letter, I have the honour (writing for myself, for I have not had an opportunity of learning the views of the Attorney and the Solicitor General) to

Report

That the draft of the proposed Order in Council, Royal Commission, and instructions are sufficient in law to carry out the objects indicated in the memorandum, and may properly be laid before the Queen for Her Majesty's approval.

In so advising your Lordship, I have considered merely the present emergency requiring the Island to be brought in some shape under British Government, and I think that it will be necessary to considér, at no distant time, the state of the law, civil and criminal, as it now exists in Cyprus, and what modifications these laws should receive, so as to bring them into accord with British rule; and I doubt whether the constitution of the Executive Council, so far as relates to native members, will not have to be reconsidered.

▲ 30491.-9. 95.-6/86.

I have, &c., (Signed)

J. PARKER DEANE.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

། ། ། ། །

CO.

Reference :-

885

12 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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