CO885-(11-13) — Page 438

1717,

No. 191.

(FIJI.)

BIR,

FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.

Foreign Office, 4th February 1879.

I AM directed by the Marquis of Salisbury to state to you, for the information of Secretary Sir Michael Hicks Beach, that he has submitted your letter of the 20th of December to the Law Officers of the Crown for their consideration, and they report that, in their opinion, a new Order in Council under the Foreign Jurisdiction Act is necessary to enable Her Majesty to exercise the powers conferred by the proposed conventions with Tonga and Samos.

With reference to the 3rd and 6th paragraphs of your letter, I am to request that, you will point out to Sir Michael Hicks Beach that Sir A. Gordon can only properly conclude conventions with States not within Her Majesty's dominions in his capacity as Her Majesty's Consul-General, and that, in Lord Salisbury's opinion, it would be better that the drafts of such Conventions should be arranged by this Office, though Lord Salisbury will of course not fail to consult Sir Michael Hicks Beach on the provisions required in any convention on account of Colonial interests.

The Under Secretary of State,

Colonial Office.

I am, &c.,

(Signed)

JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE.

NOTE. The Number 192 was not used.

▲ 19916.—184, 25,—19/84.

PUBLIC

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RECORD

OFFICE

CO.

Reference :-

885

12 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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