393
13060/33 [No. 29].
56
No. 42.
STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.
THE GOVERNOR
to
THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
(Received 9.55 a.m., 16th September, 1933.)
TELEGRAM.
[Answered by No. 43.]
16th September. Secret. Your Secret telegram of the 9th September*. Defence Contribution. Executive Council have been consulted: Unofficial Members are most reluctant to omit Clause 6 of the Bill and desire it to stand. Its provisions whether stated in Bill or in my address are intended to be equally binding and I see no serious objection to following the course for which the Unofficials press. On full consideration therefore I am of the opinion that the Clause had better stand.
As regards passages in preamble concerning Unofficial veto, my personal view was and is that Unofficial Members should be satisfied with a public assurance given by me in your name. As, however, after considerable negotiations Unofficials have decided in favour of this paragraph being inserted in preamble as a complement to Bill and as agree- ment has been reached (? on) this basis and they still desire to retain paragraph in preamble I am of the opinion that it is highly desirable to retain it.
As regards concluding part of your telegram, insistence on this will wreck settlement because it provides for termination of agreement at any time in case of fundamental change in the circumstances of the Colony and that moreover when Ordinance will have been repealed. The fundamental object of present settlement is to fix the annual contribu- tion definitely for five years and to review the contribution quinquennially in the light of changed circumstances such as your telegram mentions. I anticipate no danger arising from absence of provision of termination but its inclusion will stop settlement. Unofficial Members express greatest concern at this reopening of this cardinal point put clearly to Sir Samuel Wilson when here and already agreed to in your despatch of 11th July, 1933† communicated to Unofficial Members of the Legislative Council in accordance with instructions in paragraph 7 of that despatch. They decline to proceed further if it is insisted on.
I deprecate any point which is not absolutely essential being raised at the present juncture. Agreement has been reached with difficulty and printed fourth draft carries out every term of your despatch of the 11th July, 1933.
Please telegraph whether you approve first paragraph on page 5 of proposed address forwarded with my Secret despatch of the 6th of Septembert, on the subject of the exchange value of the Straits dollar.
13060/33 [No. 30].
No. 43.
STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE
to
THE GOVERNOR.
(Sent 2 p.m., 20th September, 1933.) TELEGRAM.
No. 141. Secret. Your telegram of 16th September secret§. Having regard to considerations which you advance I approve of the retention of Clause 6 of the Bill and the wording of the Preamble as in the Fourth Draft which forms an enclosure to your despatch of 1st September confidential. I do not press for the inclusion of any provision for the termination of the agreement. With reference to your despatch of 6th September Secret¶, I approve of draft Address to Legislative Council and of assurance that no change in sterling value of the dollar has been or is at present under contemplation.
13060/33 [No. 33].
SIR,
57
No. 44.
AIR MINISTRY
to
COLONIAL OFFICE.
Air Ministry, W.C.2, 22nd September, 1933. With reference to your letter of the 12th September, 1933*, relative to the proposals for a settlement of the basis of the military contribution of the Straits Settlements, I am commanded by the Air Council to inform you that they have no observations to offer on the draft of the Bill which it is proposed to introduce into the Legislative Council of the Colony.
13060/33 [No. 31].
No. 45.
STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE
to
THE GOVERNOR.
I am, &c.,
J. A. WEBSTER.
(Sent 7 p.m., 25th September, 1993.)
TELEGRAM.
[Answered by No. 46.]
4.
"
No. 144. Secret. My telegram No. 141f. To avoid ambiguity War Office urge that words "under Ordinance No. 64" should be inserted in paragraph 15 of “objects " due and to.' They attach importance to this "between words and reasons addition in interests of clarity and unless you see serious objection you should seek con- currence of Unofficial Members in this verbal addition.
13060/33 [No. 34].
No. 46.
STRAITS SETTLEMENTS. THE GOVERNOR
to
THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
(Received 11.50 a.m., 27th September, 1933.) TELEGRAM.
27th September. Secret. Your telegram No. 144. Unofficial Members who have
been consulted definitely object to amendment.
The words whose insertion is suggested appear to re-state one side only of the con- As it stands troversy and are inconsistent with paragraph 3 of the "objects and reasons.' paragraph 15 designedly avoids any controversial statement and I see no want of clarity in it. I most strongly urge that amendment should not be pressed as it would revive the now happily dormant controversy with the Unofficials.
• No. 39.
† No. 33.
13060/33 [No. 28]: not printed. 13060/33 [No. 28]: not printed.
§ No. 42.
No. 41.
(C 38051)
• No. 40.
↑ No. 43.
‡ No. 45.
ח !
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O.882/11
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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