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1.

LC

MINUTES.

' George R.”—The Chairman informed the Com- Adolphus," 8.8. 8.8. mittee that an agreement was being entered into with certain American owners The copper was not whereby the Admiralty undertook to bring home 6,000 tons of copper from Gibraltar at 30s. a ton, all the expenses being paid by the Government. being shipped for the Government account, but would be carried in execution of a comprehensive bargain which had been concluded with copper refiners in the United States. The Chairman asked the Committee whether the copper should be insured against war risks. The Committee thought that, as the question was simply one of accounting, it would be as well to effect the insurance. It was not thought necessary to insure against pilferage, since the American owners had The Chairman added undertaken to accept the copper as weighed out to them.

that the Government would have to meet the cost of the insurance of the copper against fire while lying at Gibraltar, as this expense could not be placed upon the American owners.

It was agreed that as much of the copper as possible should be brought home in the " Adolphus" and "George R," and that the "Kalymnos" should be sent to ship the remainder.

The Committee recommended that, in view of the application of the Swiss Italia," a telegram should Federal Minister in regard to the lubricating oil ex

be sent to Gibraltar instructing the Governor that this commodity should be left behind.

The Committee agreed that Mr. Thompson need not remain any longer at Gibraltar.

2. Accounting Arrangements.—Mr. Robinson, of the Treasury, and Mr. Bebb. from the office of the Assistant Paymaster-General for Supreme Court Business, attended the Committee during this discussion.

(a) Prize Ships.-The question had been raised as to whether it was neces- sary to make any distinction in the accounts between the periods during which the

"idle ship was or "earning." After some discussion it was decided that it would be necessary to do this, and that when the account had to be paid the Com- mittee should in each case decide, according to the nature of the expenses incurred, under which head the payment was to be placed. If a lump sum payment, including expenses of various kinds, were made, then the Committee would have to decide roughly upon the apportionment. The Committee thought, however, that in some cases it would be possible to fix a definite date of division between the moment when the ship was idle" and the ship was "earning," and that the date should then be that on which the articles for the engagement of the crew were signed.

(b) Detained Ships.-In view of the necessity of keeping separate the claims which it would be fair to charge against the German owners, the Committee thought that it would be necessary to make a division similar to the above in the case of detained ships also. They agreed that it was not necessary to recommend that there should be any alteration in the method of keeping the accounts of the detained enemy vessels employed in the coasting trade in the United Kingdom, but they thought that if any detained enemy sailing vessels in the United Kingdom were employed by the Committee otherwise than through the Newcastle Managers, the accounts in these cases might be put into the hands of the Assistant Paymaster- General for Supreme Court Business.

(c) General. It was agreed that every account should state whether it was in respect of the hull or cargo, and, in the latter case, whether the cargo were released or not released.

The Committee also decided to recommend that in cases of general average the account might be referred to an average adjuster.

3. 8.8. "Thor."-A telegram from the Governor of Jamaica was read to the Committee, guaranteeing £5,700 if the ship were sent to load at Jamaica. The Committee agreed that the "Thor" should be sent to the Colony, and that the Governor should be instructed to make all the necessary arrangements for shipping the cargo.

4. 8.8. "Spreewald."-A letter from Elder Dempster & Company was read to the Committee. It was decided to hold the matter over for the following meeting, as it was thought possible that further information might be available as to the attitude of the Government in regard to the conditions of sale.

MINUTES.

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5. 8.8. "Josephina."-Telegrams from His Majesty's Ministers at Buenos Ayres Having regard to the opinion and Monte Video were read to the Committee. expressed by the former, the Committee decided to send the ship to Monte Video, and they recommended that a telegram should be sent to the Governor of the Falkland Islands asking him to register the ship and to change her name. Governor should also be asked whether there was any wireless on board.

6.

"Græcia

The

Coal for Irrigation Purposes in Egypt.-The Committee thought that it might be possible to provide the 8.8.

for conveying coal to Egypt, and that other ships might be provided later. Before coming to any decision, however, they thought that the matter should be discussed between Mr. Holt and Sir Arthur Webb.

They agreed that the crew of the "Græcia" might be re-engaged without waiting further.

7. Mr. Holt reported to the Committee on the position of the following ships:

#

#4

Erymanthos," Rooke," Græcia."

8. 8.5. "Senegambia," s.8. “ C. Ferd. Laeisz."—A letter from the Indo-China Navigation Company, offering to charter these vessels, was considered by the Com- mittee. In view of the fact that they were joint captures, the Committee recom- mended that the Foreign Office should inform the French Government that the Committee proposed to make arrangements for bringing these ships home if possible, and should inquire whether the French Government would wish that one of them should be sent to Saigon or any other French port in the Far East for cargo. The proceeds of the voyage would, if condemnation ensued, be added to the moneys obtained by the sale of the ship, and would be divided, according to the terms of the Convention, between the two States. When a reply had been received from the French Government, a telegram could be sent to Hong Kong to ask if the ships could be requisitioned, and if officers and crew could be provided locally. The Indo-China Navigation Company should be informed that the ships would be brought home, and that it was not intended to charter them in the local trade.

local firm.

9. 8.8. "Paklat."-A despatch from the Governor of Hong Kong, stating that he had received several offers from local firms for the charter of this vessel, was considered. The Committee recommended that a telegram should be sent to the Governor asking whether the ship could be requisitioned, and, if so, informing him that he might charter her for a period not exceeding three months to any

agree Gutenfels."―The Committee approved the proposal that in the 8.8. ment with the London Chamber of Commerce it was not necessary to provide for a profit to the Crown in respect of the conveyance of the cargo to the port of destination. They agreed that it was necessary that the value of the ship for insurance purposes should be the appraised value, and they recommended that the Court should be asked to appraise the ship accordingly. They approved the terms of the proposed agreement with the representatives of the cargo owners.

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10.

THE THIRTY-SECOND MEETING of the Committee was held at the Colonial Office on Thursday, the 4th of March, 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. C. HIPWOOD, Board of Trade.

MR. H. W. MALKIN, Foreign Office.

MR. L. D. WAKELY, India Ŏffice.

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

MR. T. H. HOLT, Crown Agents.

MB. R. A. WISEMAN (Secretary).

Small Sailing Ships in the United Kingdom.—The Chairman stated that arrangements could probably be made for utilizing all these ships, but that he wished

to obtain some competent person to make an inventory of the stores before they were

* No. 5 in Appendix B.