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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

LITICO. 885

24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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MINUTES.

Mr. Wakely stated that the India Office had received notice of a claim for wages by the lascar crew of the "Gibraltar" (late "Schneefels "). The Committee thought that, when full details of the claim had been received, it might also be forwarded to the Attorney-General's Committee.

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7. 5.8. Syra."-The Committee thought that the Governor's proposals for sending the cargo of this ship to Alexandria might be approved, and that the Governor should be informed that the necessary arrangements would be made with the Egyptian Government for the appointment of an agent at Alexandria. They thought that it was not necessary for Mr. Thompson to go to Alexandria.

It was recommended that a telegram should be sent to the Consul-General in Egypt, asking him to appoint an agent to look after the cargo when it arrived, the agent to be paid a commission on sales, and the commission to be recovered from the cargo-owners. The Consul should also be instructed as to the name of the local agent of Messrs. Tyzack and Branfoot.

The Committee thought that the released cargo on the "Syra" should be insured against marine, but not against war, risks.

8. Shipment of Sulphur from Sicily.-The Committee did not think that Mr. W: F. Vince had made out a sufficiently good case to justify their making a special attempt to send a ship to remove the sulphur, and the Secretary was instructed to inform Mr Vince accordingly.

9. 8.8. “Josephina."-A telegram from the Governor of the Falkland Islands, giving particulars of this ship, was read to the Committee. Mr. Holt undertook to make inquiries with a view to the disposal of the cargo and to putting the ship into use.

10. 8.8. "Emil."-The Committee decided that John Holman & Sons, Limited, should be informed that they were unable to entertain the firm's proposals for As regards their managing the ship, as other arrangements were being made. claim upon the bounty of the Crown in respect of their position as mortgagees of the steamer, the Committee recommended that the firm should be referred to the Attorney-General's Committee.

11. 8.8. "Haidar Pasha," s.s. " Paros."-Telegrams from the High Commis- sioner in Egypt were read, relative to the requisitioning of these ships. The Committee instructed the Secretary to ask the War Office to inform them when it was proposed to requisition ships at Alexandria for military purposes, as it was exceedingly inconvenient if the ships were requisitioned without any previous intimation having been made to the Committee. In the present cases arrange- ments had already been made for sending out the crews, and additional expense would thereby be involved to the Crown. The Secretary should add that the Committee presumed that the War Office would bear any extra expense caused by the crew having to wait for the return of the ships to Alexandria.

12. Mr. Holt reported to the Committee on the position of the following

ships :-

*

Achaia ";

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Derfflinger";

"Gibraltar" (late" Schneefels ");

"Pindos

"Helgoland."

As regards the "Achaia," the Committee recommended that the Foreign Office should telegraph to inquire whether she had been requisitioned by the military authorities. It was decided that the "Pindos" and the "Helgoland" should be registered.

13. Large Sailing Ships in the United Kingdom.-Mr. Roper laid before the Committee reports which had been received from the Board of Trade marine surveyors as to these ships. After some discussion, the Committee came to the conclusion that all the ships were most unsuitable for carrying coal, except in the last resort, owing to the small size of their hatchways and the long distance which the coal would have to be trimmed in order to get it under the hatchways. They thought, therefore, that Mr. Bruce Ismay should be informed that his suggestion for using enemy sailing vessels for the carriage of coal was not practicable.

The Committee did not consider that they could accept the offer of A. E. Martin

& Company for the use of half-a-dozen Finnish sailing vessels in the coasting trade.

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As regards the desire of the Egyptian Government for coal for working pumps for irrigation purposes, the Committee instructed the Secretary to write to Sir Arthur Webb, asking him if he had any information as to the requirements of the Egyptian Government.

The Committee thought that Mr. Starkey might be offered the use of any of the sailing ships in question.

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14. 8.8. Spreewald."-The Committee thought that, in view of the delay which there was likely to be in fixing the conditions of sale, an effort should be made to utilize this ship. It was understood that she might be of use to the Elder The Dempster Company. Mr. Holt was asked to make inquiries accordingly. Committee recommended that the Admiralty should inquire what steps should be taken to deal with the coal which was still on board.

15. Insurance of Cargo removed to Warehouses in Alexandria.-A telegram on this subject was read to the Committee, who thought that the matter should be discussed with Mr. Glanvill.

16. 8.8. "Hamm," 8.8. "Apolda."-A telegram which had been sent by Captain Shotton to the Federal Steam Navigation Company was read to the Committee. In view of the recommendations in this telegram, the Committee decided that no attempt should be made to transfer Australian cargo from the "Hamm

Apolda," but that these ships should both be moved to Australia. The Committee agreed that the Salvage Association should be asked to act for them, as they had done in the case of the "Birkenfels."

to the

Mr. Malkin informed the Committee that he had looked up the correspondence with the Dutch Minister relative to the Java cargo. It had been suggested to the Dutch Government that they should appoint an agent in this country to look after the interests of these cargo-owners, but no reply had been received. The Dutch Minister had been reminded of the Foreign Office Note on the subject, but there had not been time to receive a reply from him.

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17. 8.8. "Birkenfels."-A letter from Waltons & Company, relative to the draft policies of insurance effected by the Federal Steam Navigation Company, was considered by the Committee. The draft policies were approved, subject to the observations made upon them in the solicitors' letter.

18. Accounts.-The Committee instructed the Secretary to write to the Assistant Paymaster-General for Supreme Court business and to the Admiralty, suggesting that the accounts for the "Australia and for the Gibraltar" (late

Schneefels") should be dealt with by the former.

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19. s.s. "Concadoro," s.s. “ Annaberg.”

."-The Committee thought that it was not necessary for the Procurator to requisition these ships before the arrival of the orews. Upon adjudication or requisitioning the ships might be delivered to the local agents of the firms with whom the Committee had made arrangements.

20. Ships at Zanzibar.-A telegram from the Resident was read, stating that all these ships were being used by the local Government. The Committee thought that the latter might be warned that payment would have to be made for the use of the ships.

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THE THIRTIEth Meeting of the Committee was held at the Colonial Office on Thursday, the 25th of February, 1915, at 3.15 p.m.

The following members were present:-

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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.

MR. T. H. HOLT, Crown Agents.

MR. R. A. WISEMAN (Secretary).