CO885-(16-18) — Page 127

HOME

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

C.O-885

Reference :-

17 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

78

Secretary of State for the Colonies by conducting his Civil Correspondence exactly as he would conduct it if he possessed no Military Command, and vice versa. The two functions of Governor and of Commander of the Forces, though for the time combined in the same person, should be regarded in this respect as entirely separate, and the reports made by the Governor in each capacity should be made precisely in the same manner as if that combination of powers did not exist.

203. The preceding instructions will apply also to the Governor's Correspondence respecting the Service of the Commissariat.

204. The respective officers employed under the War Office are in all cases, without exception, to give timely notice to Governors of any com- munications which they may intend to send home, affecting such Governors or the orders given by them, so that His Majesty's Govern- ment may be simultaneously made acquainted with the opinions of the Governors and with the opinion of those officers on any matter on which

it is requisite that the views of both should be known.

205. When the Civil Governor of a Colony shall have occasion to report upon, or bring under the consideration of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, matters which involve Military as well as Civil considerations, or which require the decision or concurrence of the Secretary of State for War, the Governor will first communicate with the Officer in Command of the Forces in the Colony respecting the matters

in question; and having obtained that officer's opinion or observations thereupon, he will transmit the same with his own report to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.*

206. The Officer in Command of the Forces is similarly instructed to obtain the opinion of the Governor before reporting to the Secretary of State for War, or to any Officer under whose

A Circular was addressed to the Governors of the .West African Colonies on the 13th of November, 1899

instructing them as to what constitutes a "mention in dispatches" in the case of military officers serving under the Foreign and Colonial Offices who are recommended for honours.

21249

C 2