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15308..

No. 10.

The MARQUESS OF RIPON to the EARL OF ABERDEEN.

(Sent September 5, 1894.)

TELEGRAPHIC.

Referring to Bowell's letter to High Commissioner, new Consul has recently proceeded to Honolulu. Instructions have been sent to him, 1 September, vid San Francisco, to endeavour to obtain exclusive use of an island by nominees of Her Majesty's Government, Hawaiian sovereignty being respected, and to assist a Canadian agent without compromising Her Majesty's Government. Your agent, therefore, should go as proposed.

Her Majesty's Government cannot send anyone as their representative, but, as it is understood that Canadian Government wish someone to be sent from England who is conversant with proceedings and wishes of Conference, I am willing to place at their disposal, for this purpose, Mercer, who as Lord Jersey's Secretary appears to fulfil conditions. I have accordingly directed him to proceed direct by quickest route.

Consul has been told that Her Majesty's Government take warm interest in the Buccess of these negotiations.

I presume result of tenders will not be published tiil these negotiations are concluded.

15308.

quote, for the information of the Marquess of Ripon, the following telegram which has reached him from the Minister of Trade and Commerce of Canada on the subject :-

"Fleming leaves Monday. If mission favourably received, it may be advisable for him to visit some islands. Ascertain if Admiralty will instruct Admiral to give facility if there is a ship in port."

Sir Charles Tupper ventures to commend the matter to the favourable consideration of his Lordship, and will be much obliged if the Admiralty can be moved to issue the instruction that is desired, if there should be no objection.

16101.

No. 13.

Í am, &c.

ARTHUR W. REYNOLDS.

The EARL OF GLASGOW (New Zealand) to the MARQUESS OF RIPON. (Received September 11, 1894.)

(Confidential.)

TELEGRAPHIC. [Answered by No. 26.]

Under advice of Ministers, request that Imperial Government negotiate with Hawaii arranging transfer of Neckar Island to Great Britain for purposes of telegraph cable.

│ ། ། །

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

19

Reference :-

C.O. 885

6

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

No. 11.

COLONIAL OFFICE to FOREIGN OFFICE.

Downing Street, September 5, 1894. SIB,

WITH reference to the letter from this department of the 27th ultimo,* respecting certain proposed negotiations with the Hawaiian Government, in regard to the project for a trans-Pacific cable from Vancouver to Australasia, I am directed by the Marquess of Ripon to transmit to you, to be laid before the Earl of Kimberley, the copy of telegramt which his Lordship has sent to the Governor-General of Canada on the subject.

Having regard to the great importance which a suitable landing stage in the Hawaiian group would assume if the cable were determined on, and to the circumstance that the Canadian Government are in this matter acting under an authority given to them by the Conference of Colonial Delegates assembled at Ottawa, it appears to Lord Ripon that Her Majesty's Government might possibly expose themselves to complaint, if they did not comply with the request made by the Canadian Government, that some one should be sent specially from this country, to take part in the negotiations at Honolulu. His Lordship has decided, therefore, to meet the request by sending Mr. W. H. Mercer of this Department, who attended the Ottawa Conference in the capacity of Secretary to the Earl of Jersey, and who would take part in the negotiations, not as a representative of Her Majesty's Governinent but on behalf of the Canadian Government and in conjunction with the Canadian agent.

15987.

No. 12.

I am, &c.

R. H. MEADE,

The HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR CANADA to COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received September 10, 1894.)

(Confidential.)

[Answered by No. 15.]

Victoria Chambers, 17, Victoria Street, London, S.W., September 8, 1894.

SIR,

Wrrн reference to what has already transpired in regard to the mission to Honolulu which is being undertaken by Mr. Mercer of your staff, in conjunction with Mr. Sandford Fleming, relative to the Pacific Cable project, I am directed by the High Commissioner to

† No. 10.

• No. 6.

15987.

(Confidential.)

SIR,

No. 14.

COLONIAL OFFICE to ADMIRALTY.

Downing Street, September 12, 1894. WITH reference to previous correspondence relating to the proposed acquisition of an Island in the Pacific Ocean as a station for landing a cable to connect Australia with Canada, I am directed by the Marquess of Ripon to acquaint you, for the informa- tion of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that this matter was discussed at the Conference of Delegates from the Australian Colonies and Canada which recently met at Ottawa.

The Canadian Government have called for tenders for the construction of such cable, and Mr. Sandford Fleming, a distinguished engineer of Canada, has been deputed by them to visit Honolulu, with a view to negotiate the terms on which a cable, should one be laid hereafter, can be landed on some island of the Hawaiian group, from which a branch cable would be laid to Honolulu, where he will be joined by Mr. Mercer of this department who has been desired to assist him in the object of his mission,

Mr. Fleming and Mr. Mercer will be associated with Her Majesty's Consul at Honolulu, who has been instructed to endeavour to obtain the exclusive use of an island by nominees of Her Majesty's Government, Hawaiian sovereignty being respected, and to assist the Canadian Agent generally in carrying out his mission.

I am now to enclose a copy of a letter which has been received from the High Com- missioner for Canada, quoting a telegram from his Government, asking that facilities might be afforded to Mr. Fleming for the purpose of visiting some of the Sandwich Islands, in the event of his mission being favourably received, and if this course should then be deemed advisable.

If

any of Her Majesty's ships should be in the neighbourhood of the Sandwich Islands and available for the purpose of taking Mr. Fleming and Mr. Mercer on such service, Lord Ripon would be glad if their Lordships would give such instructions as may be necessary to carry out the wishes of the Canadian Goverment in this respect. Her Majesty's Consul at Honolulu has been informed that Her Majesty's Government take a warm interest in the success of these negotiations.

R. H. MEADE.

I am, &c.

⚫ No. 12.

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