CO885-24 — Page 125

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TLC.O. 885

24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

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Malay States, or the unfederated States of the Malay Peninsula, but they were instructed to allow no code telegrams to be sent.

German Relations Strained.—A warning telegram from the Secretary of State, dated the 3rd August, stating that Anglo-German relations were strained, was received on the 4th. It was fully understood that this was not the "war" telegram of the defence scheme. The military authorities were informed at once.

British Vessels detained in Germany.-At the same time a telegram en clair was received from Sir Edward Grey reporting that British vessels were already being detained in German harbours, and warning British vessels from proceeding to German ports. The Master Attendant was duly notified.

Admiralty Message.-A cipher telegram from the Secretary of State, dated the 4th August, forwarding a message from the Admiralty, was received on the 5th. Its contents were immediately communicated to the Master Attendant and the French Consul.

Absolute Prohibition of Export of Certain Articles.-A code telegram front It the Secretary of State, dated the 4th August, was received on the 5th. referred to the Colonial Defence Committee's memorandum (470 M) contained in the Secret circular despatch of 30th May, 1914, and set out a number of additions to the list of articles, whose export was prohibited. A Gazette Extraordinary (No. 58) was issued the same day, but by an error, which is regretted, the additions The were made to the list of articles in the Secret memorandum No. 446 M. articles specified are, however, not such as are exported from this Colony, and no harm resulted from the mistake. It was corrected by a Gazette Extraordinary, No. 90, of 23rd September.

War" Telegram.-A cipher telegram from the Secretary of State, dated the 4th August, announcing war with Germany, was received on the 5th. Its receipt was acknowledged by cipher telegram. The information was at once communicated to the military authorities, and to Penang, Labuan, Malacca, the Cocos Islands, the In accordance with the Federated Malay States, and the Protected Malay States. instructions laid down in the defence scheme, the following Gazettes Extraordinary were issued :-

No. 57. Proclamation under Section 189 (2) of the Army Act; No. 58. Proclamation under Section 176 of the Army Act;

No. 59. Prohibition of exportation of petroleum:

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Quarta," Sandakan

"

put into Labuan a

No. 60. Order in Council Treatment of Neutral and Enemy Shipping. Detention of Four German Steamers.—In accordance with the instructions in "Chow Tai," and the defence scheme, the three German steamers, "Raneé," were detained in Singapore. The 8.3. few days later and was detained there.

Food Supply-When it was known in the town that war had broken out, there was a marked tendency amongst all classes, not even excepting the educated Euro- pean class, to lay in a supply of provisions. The provision shops were crowded, and there was enormous demand amongst the natives for large supplies of rice, flour, and tinned milk. The last-named commodity more than doubled its retail price in the course of the day. The retail price of rice rose by an amount which The wholesale dealers varied in different places from 25 per cent. to 40 per cent. made no attempt to raise their prices. The Colonial Secretary arranged with agents of the tinned milk firms to cease selling through the Chinese retail shops and supply not more than a case at a time only to consumers, for cash at the usual prices. A Proclamation was issued declaring that there were ample supplies of tinned milk, and setting forth the price at which it would be sold. Another Proclamation declared that the supplies of rice, flour, and dried fish were more than ample for the needs of the inhabitants, and warning the public against buying at high prices. These Proclamations had an immediate effect. There was no further tendency to panic, and the prices on the third day dropped to very little above normal.

For the sake of convenience, the facts of the following week [? work] connected with the control of the food supply may be set forth here.

The Dutch Government bought rice on a large scale, for export to Batavia. Estate managers, miners, and traders (of all nationalities) in the Netherlands Indies and Federated Malay States began to send in panic-inspired orders for “

The Colonial Secretary therefore issued much as you can buy at any price."

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instructions that no permit to export foodstuffs should be issued by the Registrar of Imports and Exports until the Colonial Secretary had satisfied himself that the amount to be exported was a reasonable one. Everyone was allowed to take a supply for fourteen days, and was informed that he might expect to have a further supply in fourteen days' time. There was no trouble, or even dissatisfaction. Similar arrangements were made by the Resident Councillor, Penang.

Applications for special consideration were made by the British North Borneo and Sarawak Governments, both of which had received rumours that the export Reassuring messages were of foodstuffs would be prohibited if war broke out. sent to both Governments.

Labuan was short of rice, and 500 bags (50 tons) were purchased by Govern- ment in Singapore and sent to the Resident, Labuan. for sale at cost price.

Within a few days of the outbreak of war, the stocks of rice in Singapore were largely increased by imports from Siam and Saigon, and it was possible to allow free export of foodstuffs to the Federated Malay States and protected States. Confidence in those places had already been restored, and exports were not unreasonably high.

Exports of rice, flour and dried fish, to countries other than the Federated Malay States and protected States continued, all through August, to require the This was invariably given. Early in approval of the Colonial Secretary. September it was considered unnecessary to continue the system. At the outbreak of war there was a danger of the German firms buying up and exporting the rice with the express object of harming the Colony, and of residents in the Netherlands Indies and Federated Malay States doing serious harm to the Colony through selfish fears.

Shipping Telegram.-A cipher telegram from the Secretary of State, dated 4th August, containing instructions of the "shipping telegram" under the defence scheme, was received on the 5th August. The receipt of the telegram was acknow- ledged, and the Order in Council, which was already standing in print, was issued at once, in Gazette Extraordinary No. 60.

Amendment to Shipping Telegram.-An amendment to the above instructions was received in a cipher telegram dated the 5th August, and an amended Order in Council was issued in Gazette No. 61 of the 6th August.

Corrections to Secret Memorandum 446 M.-A cipher telegram from the Secretary of State, dated 5th August, containing certain corrections to be made in Appendix 2 of the Secret Memorandum (O.D.C.) 446 M. under Sections 56 and 58, was received on the same day. The instructions were duly communicated to the Master Attendant for his information and necessary action.

Trading with the Enemy; Loans to the Enemy; Prohibition of Export of Certain Articles. Two telegrams dated the 6th August, referring to Secret Memoranduni 470 M, were received on the 6th and 7th respectively. The necessary action was taken by the issue of three Gazettes Extraordinary, viz. :—

No. 63. Trading with the enemy.

No. 64. Loans to the enemy.

No. 65.

Prohibition of exportation of certain articles to certain places in Europe.

Enemy Officers and Reservists; Departure of German Consuls.-Three cipher telegrams from the Secretary of State, dated 7th August, were received on the 8th. The first ordered that all German naval and military reservists were to be detained The second ordered the arrest of all German officers and as prisoners of war. reservists as prisoners of war, and asked that Austrian reservists should be watched. The third required that, as consular appointments were terminated by cxistence of war, German Consuls, if German subjects, were to leave the Colony

at once.

The instructions contained in the last telegram were complied with at once. The American Vice-Consul in Charge at Singapore took over the papers of the German Consulate.

All the German male population was brought before the authorities for examination. Those who were found to be officers or reservists were taken to St. John's Island. Some doctors who desired to proceed to Germany for service under Parole was given by all other German the Red Cross only were permitted to do so. residents.