CO885-(19-20) — Page 168

116

No. 171.

SOMALILAND.

COLONIAL OFFICE to INDIA OFFICE.

Downing Street, August 13, 1907. [Published as No. 29 in [Cd. 4472], January, 1909.]

No. 172.

EAST AFRICA PROTECTORATE.

THE EARL OF ELGIN to GOVERNOR HAYES SADLER.

Downing Street, 16 August, 1907. [Published as No. 30 in [Cd. 4472], January, 1909.]

No. 173.

SOMALILAND.

THE EARL OF ELGIN to ACTING COMMISSIONER JONES.

Downing Street, August 14, 1907. [Published as No. 31 in [Cd. 4472], January, 1909.]

117

SCHEDULE OF ENCLOSURES.

1. Despatch, No. 122, from Governor, Natal. 23 May, 1907. 2. Despatch, No. 12/31, to Deputy Governor, Transvaal. 1 August, 1907.

(Natal. No. 122.) MY LORD,

Enclosure 1 in No. 175.

Government House, Pietermaritzburg, Natal, 23 May, 1907. WITH reference to your despatch, No. 84/2, of the 25th March, wherein you enquire whether my present responsible advisers support the views entertained by the Natal Government of 1900 on the subject of the Convention signed in London on 19th May, 1900, for the preservation of wild animals, birds, and fish in Africa, I have the honour to transmit to you a copy of a minute which I have received from the Acting Prime Minister.

2. You will see from this minute that Ministers are in sympathy generally with the objects of the Convention, but consider that, before they express their adherence thereto; the question of the imposition of export duties on hides, skins, horns, and tusks of the animals specified in Section 10 of Article 2 should be discussed at an Inter-Colonial Conference, and a definite understanding on the subject arrived at between the Governments of South Africa, including that of Portuguese East Africa.

3. Should, however, the other Governments concerned agree to a uniform basis without resorting to a Conference, Natal would be prepared to concur.

His Excellency

The High Commissioner for South Africa,

&c.,. &c., &c.,

Johannesburg.

I have, &c.,

HENRY MCCALLUM.

39577

(No. 444.)

28177

(No. 83.)

29647

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 885

No. 174.

GAMBIA.

GOVERNOR SIR G. C. DENTON to THE EARL OF ELGIN, (Received August 19, 1907.)

(No. 147.)

30371

Government House, Bathurst, Gambia, August 1, 1907. [Published as No. 32 in [Cd. 4472], January, 1909.]

No. 175.

SOUTH AFRICA.

HIGH COMMISSIONER THE EARL OF SELBORNE to THE EARL OF ELGIN. (Received 24 August, 1907.)

(No. 647.) MY LORD,

High Commissioner's Office, Johannesburg, August 3, 1907. WITH reference to my despatch, No. 306, of April 22nd,* I have the honour to enclose, for your information, a copy of the undermentioned documents on the subject of the Convention signed in London on May 19th, 1900, for the preservation of wild animals, birds, and fish in Africa.

• No. 132.

I have, &c.,

SELBORNE,

High Commissioner.

MINUTE.

ACTING PRIME MINISTER to HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR.

HIS EXCELLENCY,

MINISTERS are in sympathy generally with the objects of the Convention, but before they can express their adherence to same, it would appear to be a matter for consideration whether some definite understanding should not be come to between the Governments of South Africa, including Portuguese East Africa, on the question of the imposition of export duties on hides, skins, horns, and tusks of the animals specified in Section 10 of Article 2.

2. When this question of export duties was under discussion formerly in April, 1901, the point was raised by Ministers whether legislation should not be deferred pending settlement of a uniform basis in regard to the rate and taxes to be fixed.

The Secretary of State stated, in reply, that as the Convention was not ratified, the contracting parties were not obliged to legislate, and after further intimation from the Foreign Office (despatch 23rd December, 1901) that it was useless to approach the signatory Powers with a view of arriving at a decision as to the uniform rate of the duties to be established, Ministers decided to take no further action in the matter.

3. It appears to Ministers that this question is one which could be more conveniently discussed at any Conference of the South African Governments which may assemble in the near future for the consideration of matters of inter-colonial interest, and they suggest that this course be adopted; but if it is found that the other Governments concerned can otherwise agree upon a uniform basis, Natal would be prepared to concur.

23 May, 1907.

C. O'GRADY GUBBINS,

Acting Prime Minister.

20 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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