CO885-(19-20) — Page 126

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 885

20 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

48

to the ratification of the International Convention of May 19, 1900, relative to the preservation of wild animals in Africa.

His Excellency calls attention to the reservation made on behalf of Portugal at the time of signature, and states that the Portuguese Government wait to learn from His Majesty's Government that the provisions of the Convention have been extended to all the South African Possessions and Colonies contiguous to the zone defined in Article I.

The Right Honourable

Sir Edward Grey, Bart.,

&c., &c., &c.

(Translation.)

در

I have, &c.,

F. H. VILLIERS.

Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The Minister for Foreign Affairs has the honour to acknowledge the receipt of the Memorandum from His Britannic Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, informing him of the willingness of the French Government to ratify the International Convention of the 19th of May, 1900, relative to the pre- servation of wild animals in Africa, and desiring to know whether the Portuguese Government would also be willing to ratify this Convention.

In reply, he begs to state that the Convention in question was signed by the Portuguese Plenipotentiary under the express reserve that the ratification would be dependent on the adhesion of all the countries situated to the south of the zone defined by Article I. of the said Convention; and that this reserve having been sanctioned by the law of the 9th of May, 1901, the Portuguese Government await the communication which His Britannic Majesty's Government may make to them when the provisions agreed to have been extended to all the South African Posses- sions and Colonies contiguous to the zone referred to.

Lisbon, December 4, 1906.

3056

V

3056

SIR,

49

No. 81.

NORTHERN NIGERIA.

COLONIAL OFFICE to TREASURY.

[Answered by No. 84.]

Downing Street, February 1, 1907. I AM directed by the Earl of Elgin to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 24th of January* respecting the proposed veterinary survey of Northern Nigeria, and to transmit to you, to be laid before the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, the accompanying copy of the draft of a circulart which it is proposed to send to certain Colonies and Protectorates.

2. Their Lordships will observe from the last four paragraphs of this circular that the veterinary survey of Northern Nigeria is only a part of a general scheme for placing veterinary matters in the Crown Colonies and Protectorates on a better basis. The scheme has been drawn up in consultation with Sir J. Macfadyean, and the Chief Veterinary Officer of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, who are especially qualified to advise in matters of this kind.

3. With reference to the second paragraph of your letter, Lord Elgin would point out that neither in East Africa nor in Northern Nigeria has it yet been dis- covered what diseases of animals are indigenous and common to these countries, respectively, or whether the experience gained of the conditions of East Africa is applicable without reserve to those of Northern Nigeria. Lord Elgin is advised that this information is an essential preliminary to the introduction of remedial measures, and that even assuming that diseases in Northern Nigeria are identical with those existing in East Africa, there are great differences in the conditions of life in the two countries which render a separate survey for Northern Nigeria desirable.

4. Lord Elgin is further advised that, in order to carry out satisfactorily the scheme proposed in the circular enclosed,f it has to be ascertained what animals harbour the parasite of any particular disease, and whether the insects conveying parasites from animals to animals are identical with those which convey parasites from animal to man and with those conveying parasites from man to man; and that these enquiries are affected by the varying climatic conditions of different terri- tories, as well as by the customs and practice of native tribes in treating such diseases, all of which require special study in the different Colonies and Protec- torates.

5. I am also to state that the necessity for the survey has been strongly urged by the British Cotton Growing Association, as will be seen from the enclosed copy of correspondence‡ with this Department.

6. Lord Elgin would, therefore, submit to their Lordships that the proposed veterinary survey of Northern Nigeria is of great importance and he would be glad to learn that they approve of the contemplated expenditure.

No. 80.

NORTHERN NIGERIA.

TREASURY to COLONIAL OFFICE.

(Received January 25, 1907.)

[Answered by Nos. 81 and 86.]

Treasury Chambers, January 24, 1907.

SIR,

I HAVE laid before the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury Mr. Cox's letter (43405/1906) of the 15th instant,* in regard to a veterinary survey of Northern Nigeria.

In reply, their Lordships submit to the Earl of Elgin that, so far as concerns the "investigation of human diseases," a sufficient field of observation is already afforded by British East Africa, where similar conditions prevail and where there is both a medical and a veterinary staff; and that, so far as concerns losses of stock, the experience of East Africa is applicable to Northern Nigeria without a separate investigation.

In these circumstances, my Lords would invite the Earl of Elgin to reconsider the proposal, the necessity of which they do not altogether appreciate.

591

I am, &c.,

G. H. MURRAY.

No. 82.

I am, &c.,

R. L. ANTROBUS.

GOLD COAST.

COLONIAL OFFICE to THE SOCIETY FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE

WILD FAUNA OF THE EMPIRE.

Downing Street, February 4, 1907.

[ Published as No. 14 in [Cd. 4472], January, 1909.]

• No. 78.

• No. 80.

† See No. 93.

‡ No. 60; one not printed.

26310

G