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MINUTES.

THE TWENTIETH MEETING of the Committee was held at the Colonial Office on Thursday, 21st 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.

MR. 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. T. H. HOLT, Crown Agents.

MR. C. TENNYSON, C.M.G., acted as Secretary in the absence of

Mr. Wiseman.

1. The minutes of the Nineteenth Meeting were confirmed without alteration. 2. "Birkenfels."-A letter from the Salvage Association, stating that the chief engineer and captain had left by last week's steamer, was read, and the Com- mittee directed that a reply should be sent informing the Association that instruc- tions for getting the vessel ready for sea had been sent both by the Admiralty and Colonial Office. A letter from Gowan and Company, offering to contract to deliver the "Birkenfels," "Hamm," and Apolda" in Australia, was also read, and the Committee recommended that a reply should be sent to the Company indicating that other arrangements had been made for the navigation of these ships.

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3. Registration of detained ships in the United Kingdom.-Mr. Roper stated that the Procurator-General had undertaken that the necessary papers should be forwarded in future direct from his office to the Board of Trade surveyors. He also stated that it was desirable that these ships should not be requisitioned in future until they were actually wanted, as it was necessary for the Admiralty to take charge of any ship requisitioned immediately. Mr. Evans undertook to see that arrange- ments were made for the giving of the necessary undertakings to the Court in connexion with the requisition of the ships.

4. 'Schneefels."—The Committee recommended that a telegram should be sent to Gibraltar directing that the certificate of registry and the usual papers should be placed on board the Schneefels" before she sailed. Messrs. Waltons and Com- pany should be instructed to see that the insurance policies were deposited with them before the ship sailed. The Secretary read a letter from Messrs. Waltons and Com- pany. enclosing a letter from Parker, Garrett and Company, containing a request that the Admiralty would direct the contractors to deliver the cargo to Johnson and Higgins, of New York. The Committee recommended that a letter should be written from the Admiralty to the contractors accordingly.

5. Agreement with the Managers of the Admiralty Coasting Trade Office.- The Secretary informed the Committee that Messrs. Waltons and Company had asked for further instructions with regard to the agreement to be entered into with the Managers of the detained vessels which it was proposed to employ in the coasting trade. The Committee considered that the agreement might take the form of a short agreement by the Managers to act as such upon the terms of the Committee's report; that the agreement should be made for the duration of the present war with Germany and such time as might be necessary for concluding the business, not exceed- ing six weeks thereafter. The agreement should be terminable by either party at one month's notice, and should include an arbitration clause. The selection of the arbitrator should be left to Messrs. Waltons and Company and the Managers.

6. 'Gutenfels" Agreement.-Messrs. Waltons and Company had asked for further instructions on certain points. The Committee agreed that a clause might be inserted in the agreement allowing the charterers to take the ship into a neutral port for the purpose of saving life and property only. The Committee also agreed that the charterers might be allowed to engage a crew for the voyage to Karachi and back to the United Kingdom, the Admiralty bearing the expense of the crew in respect of the homeward voyage. The agreement with the crew must include the power to move the ship to any convenient loading port before returning to the United Kingdom.

7.

“Emir.”—A letter from Messrs. Elder Dempster and Company was read, asking if they might be allowed to charter her for a voyage from Canada to South Africa. The Committee directed an answer to be sent to the effect that it was desired to bring the ship back to the United Kingdom as soon as possible for sale, that it was understood that the Company would undertake this for the Committee at cost, the total expenditure not to exceed £1,000, the Company receiving in addi- tion 5 per cent. on their disbursements.

8. 'Erymanthos” and “Kawak."-Mr. Holt stated that he had received an offer from James Knott and Company to bring these ships home at a commission. It was agreed that he should approach the firm and report at the next meeting.

"Græcia" and "Syra."-Mr. Holt reported that he had an offer from Messrs. Tyzack and Branfoot to bring home these ships. Mr. Holt was asked to obtain details of this offer and report.

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10. Insurance of detained ships and prize and detained cargoes.-A letter from the Treasury to the Admiralty on this subject was read, also a letter from Mr. Glan- ville, of the firm of Glanville and Enthoven, regarding the possibility of extending the insurance taken out by the Marshal for the prize vessels in the United Kingdom to cover vessels in oversea ports, and also to cover the detained ships which were being used in the coasting trade. Mr. Glanville explained that the Marshal's cover had been drawn in such wide terms that it might be held to cover the detained ships while actually in use. He did not think, however, that the Admiralty could be held bound to insure under it, and he recommended that, if it was not desired to insur the vessels while in use, the insurance companies should be approached upon the aut ject. As to the ships abroad, the Marshal's cover could be extended to them at a reasonable rate. Before arranging this it would be necessary to ascertain the names of the detained ships which it was desired to cover, and to get information as to the nature, tonnage, and value of all cargoes, and whether they are on ship or on shore. The Committee recommended that steps should be taken accordingly.

11. "Thor" and "Lorenzo.”—A letter from the Elder Dempster Company about these ships was read. The Committee agreed that a reply should be sent to the effect that, as the Company could not find crews, other arrangements would be made. Meanwhile, Mr. Holt should complete the arrangements with Farrar, Groves and Company.

The

12. "Lindenfels" and "Spreewald."-Mr. Wakely was asked to request the Indian Government to have the order for sale of the "Lindenfels" rescinded. question of putting these ships up to auction should be brought up again at the next meeting, and meanwhile, Mr. Roper was to ascertain whether the difficulties about the conditions of sale were yet solved.

13. Frisia."-Mr. Holt read a telegram from the Peninsular and Oriental agent at Hong Kong, and stated that he had an offer from Bullock Brothers to charter this ship from Rangoon with rice at 478. 6d. He was asked to complete a charter on these lines. Meanwhile, steps were to be taken by the Admiralty imme- diately to have the ship registered as a Government ship. Mr. Evans undertook to see to this.

14. "Fürth."-Messrs. Kellocks and Company were to be informed that the basis of their valuation of this ship should be a sale by a willing seller to a willing buyer. Mr. Evans undertook to take steps to have this ship registered as a Govern- ment ship immediately.

15. Third Interim Report.*-This was approved, subject to a slight alteration, and signed. 16.

The

"Emil."-A letter was read from John Holman and Sons, Ltd. Committee directed a reply to be sent to the effect that, until the Court had decided about this ship, their claim could not be dealt with.

17. Request by Mr. Edmund Ludlow to be allowed to charter a ship of 600 to 800 tons cargo capacity for the West of Ireland coasting trade.-A letter was to be sent informing Mr. Ludlow that, unless he was prepared to take a sailing ship, the Committee was not at present in a position to provide a ship of this capacity.

18. "Belgia."-It was proposed to requisition and charter this ship to the Anglo-Persian Oil Company for their pipe-lines in the United States. Mr. Holt undertook to find out what the Company would pay.

* No. 8 in Appendix A.