PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
PPER C.O.885
18 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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misunderstanding, which I desire in every way to avoid, as the Admiralty has shown a desire to meet us in every possible manner.
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I understood Lord Tweedmouth to state that (a) when the Bill receives the approval of the Cape Parliament, the Naval Volunteers will be entitled Odin" (or some other suitable ship) to use the prefix "Royal"; (b) that the will be placed at their disposal for training purposes, most probably in conjunction with Natal; the necessary expenditure in connection with the up-keep of this ship being defrayed out of the 50,0001. Cape and 35,0007. Natal subsidies which are now paid direct to the Navy, on the understanding that, when a suitable opportunity arises, the expenditure in connection with this ship will be met from other Cape and Natal sources; (c) that the Admiralty is favourable to an arrangement whereby the subsidy now paid by the Cape and Natal should be devoted to local Naval purposes-previously approved of by the Admiralty-such as the establishment and maintenance of submarines and destroyers in South African waters; the Admiralty kindly supplying all the necessary information and details in connection with these matters, especially considering that the total amount devoted to this
would exceed the contributions now given to the Navy. purpose
trust that, on the understanding that the Government will introduce the Naval Volunteer Bill during the ensuing Session, the Admiralty will be prepared at once to sanction the wearing of the uniform by the Cape Naval Volunteers prior to the actual passage of the measure, since I am personally aware that the withholding of this sanction--the reasons not, perhaps, being properly understood--has had a tendency to dampen the ardour of the men.
Yours faithfully,
W. Graham Greene, Esq., C.B.,
Assistant Secretary to the Admiralty.
DEAR DR. SMARTT,
No. 5.
T. A. SMARTT.
Admiralty,
ADMIRALTY to Dr. SMARTT.
16th May 1907. In reply to your letter of the 8th instant, Lord Tweedmouth desires me to say that his statement at the Conference at the Colonial Office on that date may be taken to convey an assurance to the following effect :—
(a) So soon as the Cape Parliament has passed a Bill placing the Cape Naval Volunteers in the same position as regards service and discipline as the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve established in the United Kingdom, the Admiralty will take steps at once to authorise the Cape Government to treat the Naval Volunteers as a branch of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, with the right to wear a similar uniform, it being understood that this arrangement must be provisional until an Act of the Imperial Parliament has been passed authorising the application of the Colonial Act beyond the Colony or Colonies and the territorial waters of the
samic.
(b) So soon as the necessary legislation has been passed the Admiralty will endeavour to arrange to place a vessel at the disposal of the Colonial Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve for the purposes of training the Naval Volunteers, but without any pledge as to providing a crew for-the same, and also to give all possible assistance towards the training of the Volunteers, it being under- stood that the necessary expenditure in connection with the upkeep of the ship is defrayed by the Colonies and be reserved in the meantime out of the present Cape and Natal subsidies the Colonial Parliaments so decide.
The late Commander-in-Chief of the Cape Station is expected to arrive next week, when an opportunity will be given to consider → the question of training more fully than has been possible hitherto.
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(c) As stated by the First Lord at the Conference, the Admiralty do not take up a positive attitude towards the continuance or not of the present agreement. They accept gladly the contribution to the expense of the Navy now made by the Governments of the Cape and Natal, but should the Legislatures of these Colonies decide to substitute for these direct payments another form of assistance towards the defence forces of the Empire, the Admiralty are ready to consider any arrangement which the Colonies may deem more suitable to their requirements.
With regard to the form of the Bill to be submitted to the Colonial Legislature, Lord Tweedmouth has had the draft Bill reviewed by the legal advisers of the Admiralty, and with the small alterations shown therein it is considered that it will meet the requirements of the case. It will be noticed that the Admiralty have not adopted the last "tentative" paragraph of Clause I. of the draft enclosed in your letter of the 8th instant, seeing that it is considered preferable that the duration of service, &c. should be laid down in the regulations, the legal maximum duration of service in the event of mobilisation being three years under the Royal Naval Reserve Volunteer Act of 1859 which governs the case. lt may be remarked that it would be very undesirable that the Colonial Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve should have conditions of service in time of war differing in an important essential from those of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve at home.
On the subject of the dock at Simonstown, Lord Tweedmouth desires me to say that he has ascertained that it has been designed with a full know- ledge of the fact that at certain seasons a strong south-east wind may be anticipated, and the advisers of the Admiralty are of opinion that the design provides for all reasonable contingencies and that no difficulty will be felt in docking or undocking. The question of the breakwater under construction is somewhat different, and it is premature to say whether or not the arrangement being carried out will possess the disadvantages suggested, but it would only be occasionally in very stormy weather that any possible difficulty would be experienced by ships on entering the harbour.
Believe me,
The Hon. Dr. Thomas Smartt, &c., &c., &c.
Yours truly,
W. GRAHAM GREENE.
Enclosure in No. 5.
BILL TO ENABLE THE GOVERNOR TO ENROL A FORCE OF NAVAL VOLUNTEERS.
Be it enacted by the Governor of the Cape of Good Hope, with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council and House of Assembly thereof, as follows:
force of Capea naval volun.
1. It shall be lawful for the Governor to enrol within the Colony British Establish- subjects over-the-age-of- -years-and-under-the-age-of- -years to constitute a ment of a force to be-styled the " Cape Colonial Division-Royal Naval-Volunteer-Reserve," form a division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, established under the teers. Imperial Statute 3 Edward 7 Chapter 6 and to serve in His Majesty's Royal Navy, within and beyond the territorial limits of the Colony, and either ashore or afloat, and to be liable under and subject-to-such-regulations-and-conditione7-in addition-to-liability when on actual (active) service, or when being temporarily borne on the books of any of His Majesty's ships and vessels for instruction, training or exercise afloat or ashore, to all and several the provisions of the any Imperial Statutes relating to naval discipline for the tinie being in force, und to be subject to such regulations and conditions as may from time to time be made and imposed by the Lord High Admiral, or the Commissioners for exercising the office of Lord High Admiral, acting under the authority of the Imperial Legislature, or by the Governor under powers assigned to him by His Majesty in Council under the like authority, in respect of the matters following, viz.: (a) The title, constitution, establishment, and organisation of the force, and its general administration; (b) enrolment, duration of service, disbandment, resignation, and retirement of its members;
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le First Lord at the Conference, the Admiralty do not ositive attitude towards the continuance or not of the reement. They accept gladly the contribution to the the Navy now made by the Governments of the Cape but should the Legislatures of these Colonies decide to for these direct payments another form of assistance e defence forces of the Empire, the Admiralty are sider any arrangement which the Colonies may deem le to their requirements.
he form of the Bill to be submitted to the Colonial edmouth has had the draft Bill reviewed by the legal alty, and with the small alterations shown therein it is meet the requirements of the case. It will be noticed ave not adopted the last tentative" paragraph of enclosed in your letter of the 8th instant, seeing that able that the duration of service, &c. should be laid ons, the legal maximum duration of service in the being three years under the Royal Naval Reserve which governs the case. 1t may be remarked that it rable that the Colonial Division of the Royal Naval uld have conditions of service in time of war differing ial from those of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
he clock at Simonstown, Lord Tweedmouth desires me ertained that it has been designed with a full know-
at certain seasons a strong south-east wind may be advisers of the Admiralty are of opinion that the
1 reasonable contingencies and that no difficulty will undocking. The question of the breakwater under
that different, and it is premature to say whether or being carried out will possess the disadvantages d only be occasionally in very stormy weather that
y would be experienced by ships où entering the
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