100
Government should be asked whether, in the event of the other European Powers with possessions in tropical Africa agreeing to a minimum of 30 lbs., the Soudan Government would be willing to raise their minimum to the same level.
I
am,
&c.,
H. J. READ,
for the Under-Secretary of State.
101
From the memorandum enclosed in your despatch, No. 6, Africa, I assume that the Sudan Government would be prepared to accept a minimum weight of thirty pounds in the event of the other European Powers concerned agreeing to do the same, but I should be glad to learn definitely whether this suggestion would be acceptable.
I am, &c.,
(for the Secretary of State)
W. LANGLEY.
Field Marshal the Right Honourable
Viscount Kitchener of Khartoum, K.P., G.C.B., O.M.,
&c.,
&c.
&c.,
39516
No. 61.
1
SIERRA LEONE.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE ACTING GOVERNOR.
(No. 508.) SIR,
[Answered by No. 71.]
Downing Street, 2 December, 1913.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 556, of the 5th of November,* transmitting copies of Regulations made by the Governor-in- Council under Section 2 of the "Wild Animals, Birds, and Fish Preservation Ordi- nance, 1901."
2. I note that Regulation No. 12 prohibits the selling or bartering of an elephant's tusk weighing less than twenty-five pounds. In view of the restrictions which are being imposed in other parts of Africa, I am of opinion that the minimum should be fixed at thirty pounds; and shall be glad if you will arrange to amend the Regulations accordingly.
I have, &c.,
41983
No. 62.
L. HARCOURT.,
FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.
(Received 6 December, 1913.)
am
Foreign Office, December 5, 1913. SIR,
WITH reference to your letter, No. 39762, of the 28th ultimo,† respecting the proposed limitation of the weight of elephants' tusks for trading purposes, directed by Secretary Sir E. Grey to transmit to you, herewith, copy of a despatch on the subject which has been addressed to His Majesty's Agent at Cairo.
The memorandum which was enclosed in Lord Kitchener's despatch, No. 6, Africa, of the 21st March last, forwarded to you in my letter of the 10th April.‡ suggested that a minimum weight of thirty pounds should be adopted, and Sir E Grey presumes, therefore, that the Sudan Government will be ready to accept this proposal.
I am, &c.,
W. LANGLEY.
Enclosure in No. 62.
(No. 42. Africa.)
Foreign Office, December 5, 1913. MY LORD,
WITH reference to your despatch, No. 6, Africa, of the 21st March last, respecting the proposed regulations to prevent illicit trade in ivory, I transmit to you, herewith, copy of a letter on the subject from the Colonial Office.
I have to explain that it is proposed that an International Commission shall meet in London to prepare for the adoption, by the different Governments interested, of similar regulations for the limitation of the weight of elephant tusks for trading purposes. The reply of the French Government, from whom the first suggestion for the discussion of the question by a commission emanated, has, however, not yet been received, and it is not intended to communicate with the other Governments concerned until the decision of the French Government is known.
42521
No. 63. UGANDA.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 9 December, 1913.)
[Copy to Tropical Diseases Bureau, 27 December, 1913.
[Answered by 42521 : not printed.]
Government House,
(No. 491.)
L.F.]
Uganda, 14th November, 1913.
SIR,
I HAVE the honour to transmit, for your information and consideration, a copy of a report by Miss Muriel Robertson describing the result of her investi- gations in the Masindi Division of the Bunyoro District, together with covering letters from the Acting Principal Medical Officer, dated the 30th September and 4th November, 1913.
2. The report and letter speak for themselves, and reveal the fact that we are confronted with a position both unexpected and alarming. It is unnecessary to emphasize the grave danger to the health and prosperity of the Protectorate which Miss Robertson's discoveries have brought to light, and it remains only to consider the means by which this serious situation can be met.
3. It is evident that the first and most important thing to be done is to make a careful survey of the glossinida areas, as until the fly-belts are accurately deter- mined it will be difficult to introduce measures for controlling the movement of cattle without incurring serious risk of hampering traffic and trade generally to an extent which might subsequently prove to be premature or totally unnecessary.
4. For the purpose of these investigations the staff recommended in the appendix to Dr. Wiggins's letter of the 30th September will be required, with the addition of four Veterinary Officers and a Stock Inspector, for the veterinary side of the work. With this staff the survey of the fly-infested areas could be carried on at a fairly rapid rate, especially if a large and well-trained staff of fly collectors is maintained. Miss Robertson's statistics of cattle examined, and the evidence obtained of the variation in the degree and dates of infection, appear to indicate that the cattle have been grazed for the most part in fly-free areas, and that the native herdsmen, in their ignorance of the position of fly areas, have allowed the cattle to graze near fly-belts or pass through them while changing their grazing grounds. It is evident, therefore, that no effort must be spared in locating the whereabouts and extent of these fly-belts as rapidly as possible, and, as the Acting Principal Medical Officer points out in paragraph 8 of his letter of the 30th September, the Medical Officers employed on this work will be able to obtain most useful information on other important subjects.
5. The discovery of Professors Kleine and Fischer referred to in paragraph 3 of Dr. Wiggins's letter of the 4th November, that Glossina morsitans is actually better adapted than Glossina palpalis to transmit T. gambiense, emphasises still further the need for immediate precautionary measures. It is certainly remarkable that this discovery should not have been borne out in this country, where both species practically overlap and one of them, Glossina palpalis, is known to be infected. It is, perhaps, even more remarkable when we remember that within the last ten years a very considerable number of infected natives must have traversed the areas in which Glossina morsitans exists in Southern Bunyoro and Buruli and other places -for instance, on the roads between Fort Portal and Katwe, and Fort Portal
• No. 57.
1
† No. 60. ⚫
↑ No. 20.
93159
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
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wwimmim C.O. 885
22 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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