CO885-(16-18) — Page 324

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O.885

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

17 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

34778

SIR,

No. 32.

MR. H. J. MACKINDER to COLONIAL OFFICE.

(Received September 29, 1905.)

[Answered by No. 40.]

Clare Market, London, W.C., September 23, 1905. Ix compliance with the wish expressed in your letter of the 18th instant* (37132, 1902) i beg leave to submit, for Mr. Lyttelton's information, the following observations:-

2. It appears from the copy of the lettert from the High Commissioner for Canada, which was sent to me on the 25th ultimo, that a special edition of the Lantern Lectures on the United Kingdon" will be required for the Dominion, and that the cost has been authorised by the Minister of the Interior at Ottawa. I think that the best plan would be to place me in personal communication with some repre- sentative of the Canadian Government in London who could furnish me with material for slides on Canadian subjects, and could also give me any special information which I require. Some one connected with the Iminigration Department would probably be most suitable.

3. As regards the West Indies, it appears from the copy of correspondence submitted to me that four Governments-those of the Leeward Islands, the Windward Islands, Trinidad, and British Guiana-are likely to co-operate for the production of a West Indian edition of the lectures. But I observe that there is no direct com- munication as yet from the Governor of the Windward Islands, and that we know of his decision only incidentally through the Governor of the Leeward Islands. In the case of British Guiana also, although the Executive Council has advised that the necessary funds be provided, the matter has still to be brought before the Com- bined Court. I suggest that the cost of adaptation should be shared equally by the four Governments in question. It is probable that I could obtain the necessary information and material for slides from the West Indian Association in London, which showed interest in the scheme at the time the lecture in the Whitehall Rooms last winter. It is perhaps just worth noting that the Governor of Barbados promises to bear the matter in mind and to consider it again at a more favourable opportunity. Did he know that his Colony would only have to bear a fifth part of the cost of adapta- tion, he might perhaps consider that the opportunity was already favourable. The refusal of Jamaica appears to be definite, and, under the present circumstances of that Colony, not unreasonable.

4. In West Africa the little Colony of Gambia refuses, but it is worth noting that some incidental result has there been obtained, because a small local scheme is contemplated at a cost of from £5 to £10. On the other hand, Lagos definitely, and the Gold Coast in all probability, are prepared to share the cost of a West African dition. The offer of the Governor of Lagos to obtain suitable photographs should, I think, be accepted, and I should be placed in communication with some intelligent person who has lecal information.

5. As regards South Africa, I observe that the Governors of the Transvaal, the Orange River Colony, and Basutoland are ready to co-operate for a South African edition. It is natural that Bechuanaland and Rhodesia should refuse, having regard to their present undeveloped condition; but it would be unfortunate if the Government of Cape Colony would not take a share in the work. From the terms of the Minute No. 1/325, submitted by the Ministers to the Governor, I rather gather that it was thought that the whole expenditure would fall upon the Government of the Colony. At any rate, there is no evidence that co-operation with other Colonies was dis- cussed. I suggest that, before the preparation of a South African edition is under- taken, an effort should be made to bring this most important Government into line. As regards Natal, I note that it is proposed by the Prime Minister to adapt the slides only and not the lectures. It is considered that the heads of schools should write their own lectures. I submit that the heads of schools are very unlikely, in the great majority of cases, to have the special information which is required, and

29604: not printed.

No. 28,

† No. 18.

25

I cannot help thinking that if the scheme were fully understood this proposal would not have been made.

6. In regard to the letter received on the 23rd June, 1905,* from the Governor of St. Helena, I suggest that a slide or two and a reference in the South African edition would meet the requirements of this little Colony, and I would propose that it should be asked to bear less than an equal share of the cost which would otherwise be divided equally among the co-operating Governments. I think that this proposal would meet the only difficulty which appears to be felt by the Governor.

7. The case of Mauritius undoubtedly presents a difficulty. The island does not fit easily into any of the Colonial groups into which the Empire naturally falls. But in many respects it resembles, in its circumstances, the Eastern Crown Colonies, and the necessary changes in the slides and lectures would, therefore, be comparatively small. I suggest that, in compliance with Section 6 of Governor Boyle's letter, received on the 29th July, 1905,† the cost should be reduced as regards the adapta- tion of lectures and the payment for copyright to one-third of the charge proposed in Mr. Lyttelton's circular despatch of the 13th April, 1905. The cost of printing might also, in all probability, be reduced.

If the

8. In the case of Gibraltar and Malta we have to note a refusal, but I observe that as yet there is no communication from the Egyptian Government. answer of that Government were favourable, it might be possible to approach Malta and Gibraltar again, because-as I think is recognised by the Governor of Gibraltar -it is obviously desirable that the Naval teaching contained in these lectures should be made known in those Colonies. That teaching it must be remembered has been considered and approved by the Intelligence Department of the Navy and by the Secretary of the Imperial Defence Committee. At present, however, it is clear that there is no question of a Mediterranean edition.

9. From Australia we have a communication only from the Governor of New South Wales. It is favourable, but raises difficulties in regard to procedure. They need not be discussed here in detail, because I observe from the Lieutenant-Governor's letter, received on the 5th instant, § that the Acting Agent-General of the State has been instructed to place himself in communication with me. Before, however, I can usefully discuss the matter with him it will be necessary for me to have instructions on two points:-

(a) As regards the proposed exchange of slides and literary matter between the Home Government and the Government of the Colony, and

(b) As regards the proposal to select four out of the seven lectures. The first of these points (a) involves the questions of machinery and financial basis for lectures to be delivered in the home country on Colonial subjects. These are obviously difficult and I take it that we should like to postpone them until after the completion of the various editions of the lectures for use in the Dominions beyond the Seas. As regards the second point (), I submit that it is not at all desirable to break the teaching of the lectures by allowing a selection from among them. The course has been carefully considered; it is arranged on a balanced scheme; and its teaching would lose effect if thus truncated.

I cannot help thinking that as regards the Australian Governments generally our scheme is not fully understood. They will probably come into line when they hear of the favourable decisions made in so many other parts of the Empire.

10. My remarks in the last clause as regards (6) apply also to the communica- tion from New Zealand.

11. The case of Fiji is obviously analogous to that of Mauritius and St. Helena. It should be annexed for our purposes either to Australia, to the Eastern Crown Colonies, or perhaps most naturally to New Zealand. The Governor is prepared to sanction the cost of a set of the slides, and would probably agree to some small addi- tional expenditure, though not to the whole cost of adaptation necessary for a separate edition.

12. I have received communications, of which I enclose copies, from the Inspector-General of Education in the North-Western Frontier Province of India. These communications of course suggest that it might be well to have an Indian edition prepared, and I submit that the matter is now perhaps advanced enough for an approach to the Indian Government.

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• No. 7.

† No. 15.

‡ No. 2.

§ No. 26.

D