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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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21 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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APPENDIX A.

THE COLONIES AND THE CORONATION OF THEIR MAJESTIES KING EDWARD VII. AND QUEEN ALEXANDRA.

Civil Representation.

1. Arrangements were submitted to the King on the 2nd October, 1901, for the Civil Representation of the Colonies at the Coronation :-

(a) The Prime Ministers of—

Canada,

The Commonwealth of Australia, New Zealand,

Cape of Good Hope,

Natal, and

Newfoundland.

were to be invited to attend the Coronation as Royal Guests.

(b) The Crown Colonies were to be represented by a Governor or ex-Governor for each of the

following groups :—

Eastern Colonies,

West Indies,

West African Colonies, and

The Mediterranean Colonies.

The Crown Colony Representatives were not to be boarded and lodged at the public expense, but were to be placed on the same footing as the Premiers in all other respects.

Despatch of Invitation to Representative Prime Ministers.

2. His Majesty approved, and on the 27th December, 1901, despatches were sent to the Governors- General and Governors of the self-governing Colonies mentioned above, notifying that the date of the Coronation had been fixed for the 26th June, 1902, and conveying in each case an invitation to the Prime Minister (accompanied by some lady member of his family) to consider himself the guest of His Majesty's Government for a fortnight from the date of arrival.

Despatch of Invitation to Crown Colony Representatives.

3. Invitations were issued to the Crown Colony Representatives on the 27th December, 1901, and it was intimated to them that, if not in England at the time, passage allowances both coming and returning were to be defrayed by the Colonies they represented.

Invitation to Premiers of Canadian Provinces and Australian States.

4. Further despatches, dated 27th December, 1901, were sent to the Governors-General of Canada and the Commonwealth of Australia asking them to inform the Premier of each Province and State that His Majesty's Government desired to invite those of them who might be in England at the time to take part in the Coronation ceremonies with other visitors of distinction, and that if any Premier availed himself of the invitation, places would be provided for him and some lady member of his family at the various ceremonies connected with the Coronation.

The despatch of this invitation through the Governor-General was resented by the Australian State Premiers.

A further despatch of even date was sent to the Governors-General of Canada and the Common- wealth of Australia explaining that His Majesty's Government assumed that the expenses of the Provincial and State Premiers would be borne by their Provinces or States.

Protest of the Australian State Premiers.

5. The Premiers of the Australian States (except Western Australia) protested (through the Agents-General) against being placed on any other footing than that of equality with Premiers of other self-governing Colonies. The Secretary of State replied that, with the rest of the Empire or with the outside world, Australia could be properly represented only by the Federal Government, and that the State Premiers could hardly be placed on exactly the same level as the Cominonwealth Prime Minister, except on the advice of the Federal Ministry that such action would be welcomed by the people of Australia.

Federated Malay States Rulers.

6. With the King's approval the Sultan of Perak was invited, as representing the native rulers of the Federated Malay States, to be the guest of His Majesty's Government for a fortnight. His Highness accepted.

Tonga.

7. The King of Tonga was similarly invited, but declined.

• This was considered to include the North-West Territories.

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Maori Chiefs.

8. Invitation of two Maori Chiefs was suggested, but the Governor did not recommend because of the jealousy which would be caused in selecting two. The proposal dropped.

West African Chiefs.

9. It was decided not to invite any West African Chief, but subsequently Bai Farima (Sierra Leone) and a sub-chief were allowed to come. They were to be treated as distinguished visitors without a seat in the Abbey. Their visit was not an unqualified success and their return was expedited.

Representation of Ceylon Chiefs and of the Ceylon Legislative Council.

10. The Ceylon Chiefs and Legislative Council were specially allowed six representatives. They were to come at their own expense, or at the cost of Ceylon, and were to be treated as distinguished visitors, not as royal guests.

Red Indian Race.

11. A suggestion that Dr. Oronhyateka should be invited as representing the Red Indian Race was referred to the Canadian Government. They replied that they saw no reason why he should be invited, and the proposal was not adopted.

South African Chiefs: Lewanika.

12. Lewanika, Paramount Chief of the Barotae Kingdom, expressed a desire to attend. The High Commissioner for South Africa did not think it necessary to raise the question of inviting other chiefs.

Lewanika was accompanied by-

Lieutenant-Colonel C. Harding, C.M.G.

Ngambolla Ngekna, Prime Minister. Ishi Kambai (Son-in-law).

Kuarte (Government Interpreter), and servants.

A letter of welcome was addressed to the Chief by the Secretary of State on arrival. A valedictory letter was sent by the King's Private Secretary, on His Majesty's behalf, on Lewanika's departure. The King also presented him with a silver salver. As a residence, 23, Wilton Crescent was taken for three months by the British South Africa Company at a cost of 650 guineas, the Colonial Office paying expenses and a proportionate amount of rent for the period during which Lewanika was a royal guest.

Maltese Nobility,

13. The Maltese Nobility were allowed to select four of their number to represent them,

Canadian Nobility.

14. The request of the Vicomte de Fronsac, on behalf of the "Noblesse du Canada et de l'Arcadie," for a summons to attend the Coronation was not entertained.

Reception of Representative Premiers and the Sultan of Perak. Carriages.

15. It was decided that the representative Premiers should be received at the Hotel Cecil immediately on arrival; that they should be received with, and given the use of. private carriages until the commencement of the "Coronation fortnight," that for all official functions occurring during that fortnight they should be given Royal carriages, and for all other purposes, and during the remainder of their stay, private carriages.

The Sultan of Perak was similarly treated.

Teams for Colonial Representatives' Carriages.

16. Teams for the Colonial Representatives' carriages were supplied by the War Office.

Colonial Military Representation.

17. On the 17th March, 1902, and subsequent dates, telegrams, &c. were sent to a number of Colonies, &c., inviting the despatch of Military contingents. See Appendix C.

Military Representation of Malta.

18. War Office were requested to make arrangements in regard to the military representation of → Malta, the Malta Artillery and Malta Militia being Imperial Troops.

Quarters and Rations.

19. Quarters for Officers and quarters and free rations for non-commissioned officers and men were offered for about one month from the date of landing. l'assage and all other expenses were to be defrayed locally.

Incidence of Cust.

The cost of rationing the non-commissioned officers and men and foraging the horses was under- taken by the War Office.

The Colonial Office bore the cost of quarters and incidental expenses and the actual messing expenses of the Officers.

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