CO885-(13-15) — Page 465

15299.

1

SIR,

No. 113.

(BAHAMAS)

LAW OFFICERS to COLONIAL OFFICE.

Royal Courts of Justice, July 20, 1896.

WE were favoured with your commands, signified in Mr. Wingfield's letter of the 7th instant, stating that he was directed to transmit to us for our consideration the accompanying copy of a Despatch from the Governor of the Bahamas, requesting instructions as to whether the provisions of the "Territorial Waters Jurisdiction Act, 1878," were to be taken as modifying the effect of an opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown, expressed in a report dated the 1st of May 1863,* on the subject of the extent of territorial jurisdiction of Great Britain over the Bahama Banks, and that he was to request that we would favour you with our opinion on the questions submitted by Sir W. Haynes Smith.

We have taken the matter into our consideration, and in obedience to your commands have the honour to

Report -

That there is, in our opinion, nothing in the "Territorial Waters Jurisdiction Act, 1878," which affects in any way the opinion of the Law Officers given in 1863.

In our judgment, whether inhabited or uninhabited, the Cays form part of the lands of the Colony from which the limit of territorial waters should be measured.

We have, &c.

RICHARD E. WEBSTER. ROBERT B. FINLAY.

The Right Hon. J. Chamberlain, M.P.,

&c.

&c.

&c.

* No. 176, (Vol. I.).

o 90536.-24.

25.-7/96.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

19

Reference:→→

minimumim TREEC.O. 885

14 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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