CO885-24 — Page 184

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TREET CO. 885

24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

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MINUTES.

a general average contribution. It was recommended that a telegram should be sent accordingly to the Governor-General. In view of a letter which had been received from Mr. Lowrey, stating that he had received a telegram to the effect that difficulties had been experienced by their local agents on account of the attitude of the Admiralty, the Committee recommended that a telegram should be sent by the Admiralty to the Commander-in-Chief, in order to find out what the difficulty was.

**

9. 8.3. Werner Vinnen."--Proposals from Mr. Starkey and from Houlder, In view of the Middleton and Company in regard to this ship were considered. fact that the latter firm had estimated that their proposals for taking the ship to South America would yield a profit of about £4,500, the Committee recommended that the ship should be placed in the hands of the firm.

The Committee recommended that the Government of Sierra Leone should be asked whether they could obtain 1,500 tons of ballast, what would be the cost, and when the ship would be ready for sea.

10. s.s. "Marquis Bacquehem."-A letter from Messrs. Hill, Dickinson, and Company was read. In view of the small interest of this firm in the cargo, and of the fact that they now stated that they wished that the ship should be taken to Venice, the Committee recommended that instructions should be sent to Alexandria to discharge the cargo; Messrs. Hill, Dickinson should be informed accordingly.

11. s.s. "Istria."-The draft Agreement with the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, which had been forwarded by the solicitors, was approved, subject to submission to the Treasury Solicitor. It was decided that steps should be taken to register the ship in the United Kingdom,

12.

8.3. "Gutenfels."-Mr. Tennyson informed the Committee of an interview which had taken place with Mr. Dick and the solicitors to the representatives, Mr. Malkin being also present. A telegram had been sent to Cairo, asking what pro- portion of the cargo had been released, and it was decided to await the reply.

13. 8.5. "Lutzow."-The Agreement with Harris and Dixon, Limited, for the management of this ship was approved.

14. 8.8. "Haidar Pasha."-Mr. Holt informed the Committee that Messrs. Galbraith, Pembroke and Company proposed that the ship should go to Rangoon for a cargo of rice.

It was understood that the Government of India would welcome any increased tonnage that could be put on to the Indian trade, and the Committee thought that the firm's proposals might be approved. The Agreement with the firm was also approved. Mr. Holt informed the Committee that the crew would leave on the 13th of February.

15. Alexandria Ships.-Mr. Malkin informed the Committee that the Egyptian Government were anxious to obtain tonnage to bring coal. The Com- mittee thought that the detained ships might be loaded home with cotton and sent back to Egypt with coal. They thought that any of the condemned ships might go east for cargo. Mr. Holt informed the Committee that he had made arrangements in regard to the "Achaia" and the "Paros.” Mr. Holt was authorized to make arrangements with regard to the

"Concadero," "Emil," Annaberg,"

Goslar,' and "Sudmark." Mr. Malkin agreed to send a telegram to Egypt, instructing the Court to hasten proceedings with regard to the ships which were already empty or could be discharged shortly.

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16. The Conveyance of Hemp from Italy.-The Secretary informed the Com- mittee that he had made inquiries of Messrs. Wigglesworth, who were dealing with the shipment of this commodity. The firm had undertaken to inquire of their agent in Italy what tonnage was available for carrying hemp from Italian ports. sideration of the matter was postponed until a reply had been received to these inquiries.

Con-

17. 8.8. "Fürth.”—The Committee recommended that the offer of the Anglo- Persian Company to have an independent valuation, with an umpire in case of dis- agreement, should be accepted, the decision of the umpire to be final if the valuations did not agree.

* No. 10 in Appendix B.

19. 8.8.

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MINUTES.

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18. Enemy Vessels detained in Australian Ports.-The Committee considered a letter from the High Commissioner for Australia, which seemed to show that the Commonwealth Government desired to make arrangements for the outward charter of the detained ships arriving in the United Kingdom. The Committee thought that there was no objection to this.

Diana."It was decided that the offer of John Holt and Company to deal with the ship should wait for the result of the advertisement which had been issued.

20. 8.8. "Thor."A telegram from the Governor of Jamaica, stating the amount of cargo which could be provided by local shippers, was considered. Mr. Evans undertook to find out from the Admiralty whether the collier referred to in the Governor's telegram would be available for taking any of the cargo.

21. 8.8. Apapa." Mr. Evans undertook to inquire what was the position of this tug, Mr. Holt having received a report to the effect that she was at Duala and not at Lagos.

22. Application for a Sailing Ship.-A letter from Mr. Robert May, relative to the loss of his only boat the "Frau Minna Petersen," of Fowey, by capture, at the beginning of the war, was read. The Committee agreed that Mr. May should be offered one of the enemy sailing vessels detained at ports in the United Kingdom. They thought that Colonel Leslie might be authorized to dispose of any of the other detained enemy sailing vessels.

23. A letter from Messrs. Tamplin and Company was laid before the

Committee.

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THE TWENTY-SEVENTH MEETING of the Committee was held at the Colonial Office on Monday, the 15th February, 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. L. BARSTOW, C.B., Treasury.

MR. G. ROPER, Board of Trade.

MR. H. W. MALKIN, Foreign Office.

MR. L. D. WAKELY, India Office.

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

MB. T. H. HOLT, Crown Agents.

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MR. R. A. WISEMAN (Secretary).

8.8. Birkenfels." Mr. Hotblack, of the firm of Messrs. Waltons & Com-

pany, was present during the discussion of this portion of the agenda.

A telegram from the Governor-General of Australia was read, and the Committee agreed that it covered the undertakings which the Government had been asked to give.

Mr. Hotblack

An alternative draft offer which had been prepared by the Federal Steam Navigation Company was then considered by the Committee. stated that the agreement was, in his opinion, a fair one, and the Committee decided to approve it, subject to an alteration in Clause 3 to provide that the ship should be delivered at the conclusion of her voyage to the Admiralty and not to the Commonwealth Government. Mr. Hotblack agreed that the indemnity given by the Admiralty in the agreement with the Company was covered by the guarantee given by the Australian Government in the telegram which had been read to the Committee.

Mr. Hotblack submitted the draft of a policy of insurance which it was pro- posed that the Company should take up under the terms of their agreement. * He pointed out that the following risks were not covered by this policy:-

War risks on the ship.

Cargo risks, both marine and war.

(c) Claims by cargo owners, such as claims for short delivery, etc., or claims

under the bill of lading.

(d) Enemy cargo which may have to be returned to the Capetown Court.

Claims by the Federal Steam Navigation Company under the indemnity given to them.

No. 8 in Appendix B.