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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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CO. 885

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THE SEVENTEenth Meeting of the Committee was held at the Colonial Office on Wednesday, 13th January, 1915, at 3.15 p.m.

The following members were present:-

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

MR. W. J. EVANS, Admiralty.

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

MR. G. ROPER, Board of Trade.

MR. H. L. MALKIN, Foreign Office.

MR. L. D. WAKELY, India Office.

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

MR. T. H. HOLT, Crown Agents.

MR. R. A. WISEMAN (Secretary).

Mr. E. R. Newbigin was also present during the discussion of (1).

(1) Representatives of the various firms who appeared at the Fourteenth Meeting of the Committee were again asked to attend, in order that the measures which had been taken for putting into use the enemy vessels detained at ports in the United Kingdom might be explained to them. A list of those present, as well as a report of the proceedings, will be found elsewhere.*

When the representatives of the London firms had withdrawn the Committee's policy was further discussed with Mr. Newbigin. It was arranged that a list of the firms to whom the Committee desired that preference should be given in charter- ing should be communicated to the Managers each week. It was also arranged that the Managers should not finally conclude any charter without first obtaining the sanction of the Committee.

The financial arrangements were also discussed with Mr. Newbigin. It was arranged that the Managers should send a monthly account showing the balance of cash in hand, together with vouchers for any expenditure that had been incurred. Mr. Evans undertook to arrange that the Admiralty should take immediate steps for the requisition and registration of all the detained ships.

(2) 8.8. "Istria." The Committee considered that the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation should be put into communication with the solici- tors, with a view to the conclusion of an agreement, and that the Corporation should be informed that they might now apply for the cargo in this ship to be released to them on bail.

(3) 8.5.

'Gutenfels.”—The Committee considered the draft of an agreement which had been sent to them by their solicitors. They thought that negotiations might be opened with Messrs. Grahams and Company on the lines of the draft.

(4) 8.8. Frisia."-An application received through the Governor of Hong Kong, from the Peninsular and Oriental Steamship Company, to charter this ship for a voyage to the United Kingdom, was approved, subject to negotiations with the Company as to terms.

(5) 3.8. Schneefels."-The Committee considered that the contractor might be informed at once that the crew for this ship could be sent out to Gibraltar.

(6) Bahamas Volunteers.--The Committee discussed a telegram on this sub- ject from the Officer Administering the Government of the Bahamas, but considered that it would now be impracticable to use these men for any of the ships in the West Indies.

(7) Steamships " Adolf,"

'Georg."-A telegram from the Senior Naval

Officer at Gibraltar, forwarding an offer of £7,500 for these two ships, was con- sidered. The Committee recommended that the Senior Naval Officer should be informed that this offer was not sufficiently high, but that if an offer up to the appraised values of these ships was received it might be accepted.

(8) Letters relating to the 8.8. "Dryade," the 8.8. "Emma Minlos," and "Marie Leonhardt," and to the s.s. "Leda were disposed of at this meeting.

* See Miscellaneous No. 813.

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A statement furnished to the Committee is included as Annexure A

to No. 2 in Appendix A.

THE EIGHTEENTH MEETING of the Committee was held at the Colonial Office on Thursday, 14th January, 1915, at 3.15 p.m.

The following members were present:---

1.

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

MR. G. ROPER, Board of Trade.

MR. H. L. MALKIN, Foreign Office.

MR. L. D. WAKELY, India Office.

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

MR. T. H. HOLT, Crown Agents.

MR. R. A. WISEMAN (Secretary).

The Third Interim Report.*-This report was considered and various alteratious were made. It was decided that the report should be considered again at the following meeting of the Committee.

2. 8.8.

"Frisia." The Committee decided that the terms proposed by the Feninsular and Oriental Company for the charter of this ship should be discussed by Mr. Holt with a representative of the Company.

3. 8.8.

"Fürth."-The Chairman stated that the Anglo-Persian Oil Company were prepared to offer from 6s. to 88. a ton per annum for this ship. The Com- mittee considered that these terms should be discussed with the Company by Mr. Holt.

4. The Committee recommended that an Organizing Secretary should be appointed, to deal with the work that would arise in connexion with the charter. ing of the enemy ships detained at ports in the United Kingdom and to do such other current business as might be assigned to him by the Committee. The Organ- izing Secretary should have a separate office and staff and should deal directly with all the business correspondence in connexion with the Admiralty Coasting Trade offices, both in London and Newcastle.

The Committee recommended that a letter should be sent to the managers asking them to forward a statement of their recent travelling expenses.

The

5. A letter from the High Commissioner for Australia, explaining the action which had been taken by the Commonwealth Government in regard to certain of the enemy vessels held up in Australia, was discussed by the Committee. Committee recommended that the High Commissioner should be asked what was the view of the Australian Government as to the employment of any ships arriving in the United Kingdom.

The

Other general questions as to the destination of the freight on ships chartered by the Commonwealth Government, as to the payment of expenses, and as to fees, should stand over until the question of the Prize Fund had been settled. question as to the position of detained ships in neutral ports could remain over pending a reply from the Attorney-General to the memorandum which had been written by Mr. Malkin.

CE

6. Steamships "Moltkefels," Steinturm," and Rappenfels.”—The Com- mittee recommended that the proposals of the Indian Government for sending these ships for trade purposes to the United Kingdom should be approved.

The Committee thought that enemy ships detained at ports in India_might be retained for purposes of Indian trade, but they recommended that the Indian Government should be asked to keep separate accounts for every ship with which they dealt.

The Committee also recommended that the "Steinturm," being a detained ship, should be insured for her full value. The "Steinturm might be treated as a ship detained in an Indian port. The "Moltkefels " and "Rappenfels," being condemned, should be sold on arrival in this country. Mr. Wakely was asked to obtain information as to the probable dates of their arrival.

7. The Committee thought there was no objection to their interim reports being communicated confidentially to any of the Colonial Governments that might

* No. 8 in Appendix A.