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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

CO.885/25

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

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Native Commissioner's Office, Fort Jameson, Northern Rhodesia,

SIR,

5th May, 1915. I HAVE the honour to bring to your notice the fact that a sum of money, as shown in the attached list, has been handed to me with the accompanying letter from certain chiefs and others from the neighbourhood of Fort Jameson, with the wish that it should be forwarded to His Majesty the King to assist in the purchase of a military aeroplane, which is being presented to his army in Europe under the auspices of the Overseas Club.

A month ago I was given to understand that a number of natives would like to subscribe to the Overseas Aircraft Fund, for which a list was then passing round the Europeans in Fort Jameson. I suggested that they should start a list of their own, under their own committee; I would, if they liked, send the money to England for them. I thought then that this idea was only with reference to the more civilized natives in the township; I later found, however, that Chief Sayiri, who happened to be in here at the time, had gone back to his district with a subscription list and a notice asking whether there were any natives who would like to subscribe towards this object, explaining that it was quite voluntary-an expression that was reiterated, I found, throughout the notice to buy an aeroplane for the British Army. I neither drew up nor signed this notice; in fact, I never suggested to any natives that money should be given. Hearing of it from Chief Mpeseni, I took the opportunity of insisting that the gift was to be quite voluntary and was to be sent to His Majesty. He replied that he had quite understood this.

The sums brought in consisted of subscriptions ranging from a few shillings to pennies and halfpennies, with one exception; chief Zamani, after having handed in the subscriptions of his own people, came back later and handed me a sovereign, stating that that was from himself. Not quite grasping his intentions I offered him change, which he absolutely refused. I think that this should suffice to show that the whole thing has been entirely voluntary. I have endeavoured, without putting myself forward, to see whether this offering was voluntary. I am satisfied that it

has been so.

I trust that it will be possible to fulfil to the letter the wishes of these natives, who are chiefly of the Angoni tribe, and that the money will be handed to His Majesty King George.

Should it be possible to obtain any copies of photographs of the aeroplane which is purchased, I feel sure that the chiefs would be delighted to have them.

The Magistrate,

Fort Jameson.

KING GEORGE, OUR CHIEF.

I have, &c.,

T. F. SANDFORD,

Native Commissioner.

Fort Jameson, Northern Rhodesia, 30th April, 1915.

We have heard that you are fighting with the Germans there. We are sending you our help to do what is necessary to make a military airship. We are all sorrowful to find that this year there is not the good peace there was before war is in all the country: we do not understand how God allows it.

:

We shall rejoice if the little gift which we, our people, and our friends are sending has been accepted.

CHIEF MPESENI JELE.

CHIEF MADZIMAWE JELE.

CHIEF ZAMANI Jele. CHIEF MAGUYA JELE.

CHIEF SAYIRI JELE.

CHIEF NYONGO WILIMA.

G. SIMEON MWASE. DOUGLAS MATTAKA.

NEBAT J. KAMBANIZITI SAKALA.

E. ZEBULON TEMBO.

H. HASTINGS KUMWEMBR.

THOMAS MSOSA.

[

LIST

15

ΟΕ SUBSCRIPTIONS BY NATIVES OF FORT JAMESON DISTRICT FOR AEROPLANE FOR

32402

Mpeseni Jele

Madzimawe Jele

Zamani Jele

Maguya Jele

Sayiri Jele Nyongo Wilima Mishoro Jele Nguluwe Masangani Mlonyani Jele Ngapo Thole

Fort Jameson Town

HIS MAJESTY'S ARMY.

No. 36.

SOUTH AFRICA.

£ s. d.

7 10 6

4 15 10

4 9 9

3 1 8

1 18

9

2 1 0

3 4 8

0 16 10

0 13 6

0 14 6

2 13 10

£32 0 11

THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE HIGH COMMISSIONER.

(Northern Rhodesia. No. 281.)

Downing Street, 16th July, 1915.

MY LORD,

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 12th ultimo, respecting the sum of money subscribed by certain chiefs in the Fort Jame- son district of Northern Rhodesia for presentation to the King.

2. I have laid your despatch before His Majesty, who has commanded that the chiefs should be informed of his appreciation of this proof of their loyalty and good

will.

3. By arrangement with the Army Council the sum will be devoted, in accord- ance with the chiefs' wishes, towards the cost of a military aeroplane, and photo- graphs of the aeroplane will be forwarded to you for transmission to them in due course. I have to add that the Army Council have asked that an expression of their thanks may be conveyed to the chiefs for the gift.

I have, &c.,

36004

No. 37.

SOUTH AFRICA.

A. BONAR LAW.

THE ADMINISTRATOR, SOUTHERN RHODESIA, to THE HIGH .COMMISSIONER.

(No. 405.)

(Received in Colonial Office 5th August, 1915.) TELEGRAM.

10TH JULY. With reference to Your Excellency's telegram of 6th July, I have the honour to state that, in addition to the £38,050 voted in the Legis- lative Council for the year ended 31st March, 1915, for the purpose of meeting war expenditure mainly in connexion with the raising of the two Rhodesia regiments and since expended, the following gifts have been contributed by the inhabitants of Southern Rhodesia :-

† To Imperial forces in British East Africa, 5,706 bags of maize of 200 lbs.

each.

* No. 85.

+ See High Commissioner's despatch to Secretary of State No. 435, 29th May, 1915: (27665) not printed.

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