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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

C.O.

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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MINUTES.

should be returned to the owners, it appeared unlikely that the final accounts for the sale of the enemy cargo could be rendered by Messrs. Grahams and Company without further delay. The Committee decided that Messrs. Grahams should be asked to expedite the rendering of the accounts, so far as possible, and to forward provisional accounts showing the position up to date.

The Secretary reported that Messrs. Grahams and Company had accepted the decision of the Committee that a uniform commission of 21 per cent. should be charged on the sale of the enemy cargo.

5. Management Commission payable to Messrs. Grahams and Company.— The Secretary stated that he had been informed by Mr. Bebb that Messrs. Grahams and Company had charged 14 per cent. management commission in the accounts He had ascertained from the India Office that, for prize ships hitherto received.

since May, 1915, a commission of 1 per cent. only had been paid by that Office for the management of the prize and detained ships controlled by the Government of India. The Committee decided that Messrs. Grahams should be asked to charge the same rate of commission for the Committee's ships as for those controlled by the Government of India.

6.

8.8. Syra." The Secretary reported that the accounts for voyages 1 and 2 of this ship showed a total balance of £225 10s. 9d., due to Messrs. Tyzack and Branfoot, of which £79 3s. 1d. had been incurred in respect of services rendered after the 18th of May, on which date the ship had been transferred to the Admiralty. The Committee agreed that £146 78. 8d. might be paid to Messrs. Tyzack and Branfoot, the remainder of the account being left over until payment had been received from the Admiralty.

7.

8.5.

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Istria." The Secretary reported that he had had an interview with Mr. Padfield, of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, with regard to a telegram which had been received by the bank from Messrs. Catzeflis and Booth at Alexandria stating that the Court had refused to allow the bank to retain the proceeds of the sale of the cargo, but had suggested that a commission should be paid to the bank, the amount of such commission to be settled with the Admiralty. The Secretary stated that he had informed Mr. Padfield that he did not think it likely that the Committee would agree to the payment of such a com- mission if the matter were referred to them.

8. 8.8. "Nicolaos." The Committee discussed a telegram which had been received by the Foreign Office from His Majesty's High Commissioner for Egypt stating that the Court at Alexandria had refused to make an order for the delivery of this vessel to the Crown, and that they proposed to sell her by private treaty to the highest bidder. The highest bid hitherto had been received from a Greek. The Committee approved the draft of a telegram in reply submitted by Mr. Malkin.

Mr. Holt reported the action he had taken with a view to engaging a captain and crew for the ship, and he was asked not to cancel the arrangements but to wait until a reply had been received from the High Commissioner for Egypt to the telegram referred to above.

The Secretary reported that Mr. Kellock had asked whether an Egyptian subject would be allowed to bid at the sale if the ship were put up for auction The Committee decided under the usual conditions for the sale of prize ships.

that a letter should be written to the Foreign Office stating that they saw no objec- tion to Egyptians bidding, provided that the safeguards applicable to purchases made by British or Allied subjects were agreed to by the Egyptian Government, and the necessary legislative action taken to enforce them in the case of Egyptian subjects.

"Neath."-Mr. Holt reported that 516 tons of bunker coal had been supplied to this ship by the Government of Mauritius from the stock of Transvaal coal belonging to the Admiralty. The Committee decided that the matter should be adjusted with the Admiralty.

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10. Terpsichore." Mr. Holt brought up the question of the future employ- ment of this ship. The Committee considered that if possible the ship should take a cargo outwards.

11.

"Clevedon," Mr. Holt reported that the claim for salvage had been dropped by Messrs. Jolliffe.

MINUTES.

12. "Bellas." Mr. Holt reported that when this ship had arrived at Falmouth sickness had broken out on board, and it had been necessary to send the men to the hospital. There was no legal liability upon the Committee to pay the expenses which had been incurred by the hospital, but it was usual for the better class of shipowner to pay such expenses. Moreover, the amount paid, less £10, would be recovered from the Protection and Indemnity Association, and if the expenses were not paid the Committee would have to pay six guineas. In these circumstances the Committee agreed to pay the £27 6s. 8d.

13. "Pampa."-The Committee decided that it was not worth while apply- ing to the Court to requisition this ship for use in the coasting trade.

14. S.S. Erymanthos." The Secretary read a letter from Messrs. Churchill and Sim asking whether the Committee could assist them in obtaining labour for the erection of the railway material brought to Newport by the Admiralty. The Committee decided that a letter should be written to the Ministry of Munitions asking them if they wished to take over the machinery, and whether they would take steps to provide the necessary labour to erect the machinery for the purpose of the sale.

15. Coins ex "Lotus."--The Secretary stated that a despatch had been received from the Governor of Malta asking whether there was any objection to certain coins seized from two Greek subjects on board the French ship "Lotus " being forwarded to the United Kingdom for disposal in this country. The Com- mittee considered that there would probably be a better market for the coins in Egypt, and that the Governor should be asked to arrange for the sale through the Consul-General in that country. The Foreign Office should be asked to authorize the Consul-General to make the necessary arrangements. The Chairman pointed out that the proceeds of the sale would be payable to the French Government under the Joint Capture Convention.

16. Cost of search of “Ciudad de Cadiz."-The Committee considered that there should be no difficulty in obtaining an Order from the Court in Sierra Leone authorizing the payment to the Sierra Leone Government of their expenses out of the proceeds of the sale of any condemned cargo.

17. General Questions (Fees).-The Committee considered a précis of certain correspondence with oversea Governments which had taken place as a result of the passing of the Colonial Courts of Admiralty Act, 1890, and discussed the question as to how far it would affect their proposed report on the subject of fees payable to officers of Prize Courts. Mr. Tennyson undertook to submit the draft of a report to the Committee at their next meeting.

2641.

THE ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-THIRD MEETING of the Committee was held at the Colonial Office on Monday, the 14th of August, 1916, at 3.15 p.m.

The following members were present :---

VICE-ADMIRAL SIR É. J. W. SLADE, K.C.I.E., K.C.V.O. (Chairman). MR. W. J. EVANS, Admiralty.

MR. G. L. BARSTOW, C.B., Treasury.

MR. H. W. MALKIN, Foreign Office.

MR. L. D. WAKELY, India Office.

MR. C. TENNYSON, C.M.G., Colonial Office.

MR. T. H. HOLT, Crown Agents.

MR. R. A. WISEMAN (Secretary).

1. The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed.

2.

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8.9. Grahamland."-The Committee agreed to pay £96 2s. to the Penin-

sular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company on account of stores supplied out

of the Company's stock on H.M.S. "Macedonia.'

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3. 8.8. Emir." The Committee considered a further letter from Messrs. Elder Dempster and Company with regard to their account of £250 for the cost