CO885-24 — Page 191

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

CO. 885

24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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actually handed over to private firms. He suggested that it might be possible to arrange for the inventory to be made with the help of the Board of Trade surveyors in the various ports. Mr. Hipwood undertook to make inquiries as to this and to consult with Mr. Holt.

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2. Large Sailing Ships in United Kingdom.-The Chairman stated that he

"Comet proposed to make use of one of these ships as a substitute for the Seaham, and another as a substitute for the "Herbert Fischer at Poole. He also thought that he could employ the "R. C. Rickmers."

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In all the circumstances the Committee thought that it would not be desirable to charter any of these ships for a long voyage to American waters, and they there- fore, decided that Mr. Starkey should be informed that they could not entertain any proposals from him for the use of the "Carl" and the " Chile."

3. Steamships "Senegambia" and "C. Ferd. Laeisz."-Mr. Malkin informed the Committee that he had looked up the papers with regard to these ships, and ascertained that the Foreign Office had written to the French Govern- ment three weeks ago to ask whether they agreed to regard them as joint captures, but that no reply had yet been received. He stated that he proposed to telegraph to Paris to ask when an answer might be expected to the Foreign Office note, and at the same time to instruct His Majesty's Ambassador to inquire whether the French Government would accept the proposals to which the Committee had agreed for utilizing these ships.

8.8.

4. Emir."The Committee discussed the question of appointing brokers to manage the sale of enemy cargo, and eventually Mr. C. Gordon Clark, of the firm of Churchill & Sim, was invited to attend the Committee in connexion with this. He stated that, if his firm were appointed as brokers to the Committee, they would charge the commission usual in the trade for the sale of the particular com- modities with which they happened to be dealing. In the largest trades, such as the metal and grain trades, the commission was I per cent, in the case of, timber it was 21 per cent., but in all cases the rate was one which could be verified.. When Mr. Clark had gone the Committee instructed the Secretary to find out from the Admiralty Marshal upon what conditions he had appointed Messrs. Churchill & Sim to act as his brokers, and to write to Mesars. Churchill & Sim, appointing them as brokers to the Committee for the sale of the enemy cargo on the "Emir,” on the same terms as their appointment from the Admiralty Marshal

Mr. Tennyson informed the Committee that an application had been made to the Colonial Office on behalf of Wallace Brothers & Company, Limited, in respect of one thousand bags of ground nuts on the ship. The Committee agreed that the documents in respect of this claim might be forwarded to, the Colonial Office to be dealt with, and that it was not necessary for the claim to be referred to the Prize Court at Gibraltar.

As regards a case of spears in respect of which a claim had been presented through the Foreign Office, the Committee thought that there would be no difficulty in delivering the spears to the American claimants if they would forward a statement of the identification marks.

The Committee thought that, when the policies of insurances effected by owners of released cargo were examined on behalf of the Committee, a record should be kept of the number of each policy, and the name of the Company with whom the policy had been taken out.

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Mr. Holt informed the Committee that the Emir would be docked that afternoon.

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5. 8.8. ' Ranee.”—Mr. Holt informed the Committee that Mr. Somerville pro- posed to insure this ship for £12,500. The Committee agreed, however, that it was not necessary that any detained ships should be insured for more than the appraised value, and that in all cases the Court should be asked to order an appraise- ment to be made. The Committee instructed the Secretary to write to Messrs. Glanvill, Enthoven & Company, to ask them not to have any more detained ships valued by Messrs. Lachlan & Company without special instructions.Į

6. 8.8. Marina.”—The Committee thought that Messrs. Elder Dempster & Company should be asked whether they wished to make an offer for this ship.

7. s.8.," Josephina.”—The Committee agreed that the cargo of coal might be sold at Monte Video, and that the ship could be loaded there or in, Brazil. Mr. Holt was asked not to make final arrangements in case the Admiralty wished to requisition this ship for naval purposes.

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Spreewald."-The Committee understood that there was likely to be some further delay in determining the conditions of sale.

Mr. Holt stated that Elder Dempster & Company were anxious to use this ship in their trade with West Africa. They estimated that she could make a profit of from £1,500 to £2,000 in that trade, but, of course, a much larger profit could be made if she were sent to America. The Committee understood that there was a need for tonnage in West Africa, and in the circumstances they thought that Elder Dempster's proposals might be accepted. The firm might be informed that the cargo of coal could be sold at Plymouth, or in London if there was no market in the former port.

9. Coal for Egypt.-Mr. Holt informed the Committee that he had gathered that the Egyptian Government had a sufficient supply of coal for its railways and for public irrigation purposes, and that there was no serious shortage for private irrigation purposes. In the circumstances the Committee thought that it was unnecessary to consider further the question of providing a ship for conveying coal to Egypt.

10. 8.8.

Gracia."—It was understood that this ship would shortly be arriving at Middlesbrough. The Committee agreed that when she had been discharged the crew might be retained, and that arrangements should be made for her to bring a cargo of coal to London. Mr. Holt was to arrange with Lieutenant-Colonel Leslie for what company the coal should be carried.

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8.8. "Rooke."--The Committee decided that when this ship had been discharged at Middlesbrough she should also be loaded with coal for London, similar arrangements being made as in the case of the "Græcia."

Mr. Holt informed the Committee that he had learnt that there were 422 bags of maize on this ship, as to which the managers required instructions.

It was understood that this cargo had been transferred from the "Emir," and the Com- mittee decided that, if it were ascertained that the cargo had been condemned, it should be put into the hands of Messrs. Churchill & Sim for sale.

The Committee agreed that a claim presented by the Russian Consul-General, on behalf of a Russian sailor, for wages due to him before the capture of the ship, might be referred to the Attorney-General's Committee.

12. Steamships Adolphus" and George R."-The Committee decided that, after their discharge, these ships should be fixed to take cement from the Medway to Rosyth, and to bring back coal to London.

13. Requisitioning of Ships.—The Committee recommended that a telegram. should be sent to Alexandria, by the Foreign Office, to ask for full information in regard to the requisitioning of ships at that port, and to inform the local authorities that the captains and crews who were being sent out for the ships were engaged by particular firms and should not be separated. The Committee recommended that the Admiralty should also send a telegram to the naval authorities to ask for particulars.

The Committee thought that Mr. Holt might wait before proceeding further with regard to the "Helgoland," "Altair," "Pindos," "Koerber," and Goslar," until the Foreign Office had obtained particulars as to the date when the cargoes were likely to be discharged, but that, in regard to ships for which he had obtained managers, steps might be taken to fix the charter subject to requisitioning.

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14. Report on position of Ships.--Mr. Holt informed the Committee that the "Derfflinger's" charter had been cancelled and transferred to the "Lutzow." also informed the Committee that the "Gibraltar” had arrived at New York, and that a further instalment of £2,000 was due to the contractor. The Committee recommended that the Foreign Office should telegraph to the British Consul at New York to ask him to report the date of the steamer's arrival. Mr. Holt also informed the Committee of the position of the "Lorenzo," "Thor," and "Frisia.” In view of the stage which had been reached with regard to the "Gutenfels," the Committee agreed that Messrs. Waltons might be instructed to go ahead with negotiations for moving on the "Barenfels," "Lauterfels," and "Werdenfels."

15. Steamships “ Rajaburi” and “Quarta.”—The Committee decided that Mr. Roberts might be informed that the necessary instructions would be sent to the local Government when they had learnt that he had accepted the terms of the agreement for the charter of these ships, and that, as the Committee were effecting the insurances of the ships, it was not necessary to class them with Lloyds.