CO885-24 — Page 194

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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Reference :-

C.O. 885

24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE

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MINUTES.

THE THIRTY-FIFTH MEETING of the Committee was held at the Colonial Office on Monday, 15th 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. T. H. HOLT, Crown Agents.

MR. R. A. WISEMAN (Secretary).

He

Coal for Egypt. Sir A. L. Webb, K.C.M.G., attended the Committee during this discussion. He stated that he had no information as to the coal required by Egypt for private irrigation purposes beyond that which was already in the possession of the Committee. He supposed that the idea of the Egyptian Govern- ment was that the coal would be provided by the Admiralty, but he did not think that any steps could usefully be taken until particulars had been supplied as to the quality of coal required and the method of payment, and until a credit had been opened with the National Bank of Egypt to enable the purchases to be made. suggested that a telegram should be sent to the Egyptian Government, by the Foreign Office. asking them to open the necessary credits in this country, and to request the Minister of Public Works to give the necessary authority to Sir Arthur Webb to make such purchases as were required. He thought that it should also be pointed out to the Egyptian Government that it would be necessary for them to pay the market rates, both for the coal and for freight. The Committee agreed with Sir Arthur Webb's recommendations, and were of opinion that the matter should again be considered when a reply had been received to the telegram from the Foreign Office to the Egyptian Government.

2. s.s. "Josephina."-The Committee agreed that the offer of the Falkland Islands Company to purchase 300 tons at 40s. a ton, the coal to be discharged at the Company's expense, might be accepted. The remainder of the cargo of coal on this ship might be supplied to His Majesty's ships if they were in need of it, but the ship should not be delayed for that purpose.

3.

8.8.

"Fürth.”—Mr. Holt informed the Committee that the scrap tin on board this ship had been sold for a net sum of £5 48. Od. and the credit for this pay- ment was included among the accounts furnished in respect of the voyage from Ceylon to the United Kingdom.

Mr. Holt informed the Committee that a cheque for £1,147 had been paid to the The Com- Crown Agents in respect of freight earned during the voyage home. mittee thought that the account should be discussed at a subsequent meeting when Mr. Tennyson would be present.

The Admiralty having sanctioned the sale of the steamer to the Anglo-Persian Oil Company for £55,000, the Committee instructed the Secretary to inform the Company accordingly, and to add that if they paid the purchase money by instal- ments they must either execute a mortgage bond or give a banker's guarantee. The necessary legal documents should be prepared by Messrs. Waltons & Company.

4. 8.8. "Frisia."-The Committee were of opinion that they would be liable for the 210 tons of rice which had had to be unloaded at Rangoon and reshipped in the "Warturm," and it would have to be brought home in the latter at the freight arranged for the "Frisia."

5.

"

Gibraltar."- 8.8.

"-Mr. Holt informed the Committee that a proposal had been made by the charterers to take this ship to Marseilles or to French Atlantic ports instead of bringing her to the United Kingdom to unload. The Committee thought it would be better for her to unload her grain in the United Kingdom.

6. 8.8. "Emir."-The Committee agreed to a proposal that after her discharge The question of fixing her home the "Emir" should load with coal for Nigeria. from Buenos Ayres should stand over for the present until it was seen if there was cargo offering on the West Coast for which shipping was not readily available.

7. 8.8. “Syra.”—Mr. Holt informed the Committee that the "Syra" had arrived at Alexandria. The Committee agreed that he might make arrangemente to fix her for a voyage home.

8. 8.3.

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Schwarzenbek."-Mr. Holt stated that he had seen Messrs. John Stewart & Company, who were a reliable firm. Mr. Stewart had undertaken to work out figures as to the cost of a voyage to America, or of a round voyage, but he had fallen ill and so far had been unable to prepare the estimate.

9. S.8. "Marina."-The Committee decided that Messrs. Elder Dempster & Company should be informed that it was impossible for the Committee to fix a price at which the ship could be chartered to them and that, if they wished their offer to be considered, they must name a definite sum.

"Werdenfels."-

46

Barenfels,"

Lauterfels,"

10. Steamships "Gutenfels,” The Committee thought that the draft agreement for bringing the "Werdenfels to the United Kingdom was suitable, provided that it was made quite clear that they were indemnified against any claims based on the cargo being carried to a destination other than the original one.

As regards the indemnity to be given by Grahams & Company in respect of the enemy cargo of these four ships, the Committee thought that the liability of the representatives could be limited to the figures given in the telegram which had been received from His Majesty's High Commissioner.

and

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They had no objections to offer to the proposed agreement with Grahams & "Barenfels after their Company for the management of the "Gutenfels discharge in India.

11. Steamers requisitioned at Alexandria.-A letter from the War Office on this subject was read. The Committee thought that the War Office should be informed that there was no essential difference between the liability incurred by the military authorities in respect of detained and prize ships, and that claims in either case ought, in their opinion, to be met by the War Office.

Having regard to the position of the cargo of the remaining ships left at Alex- andria, the Committee thought that no further action could usefully be taken by Mr. Holt for the present.

K

12. Report on Position of Ships. Mr. Holt reported to the Committee Thor," 'Spreewald," on the position of the following ships: "Lorenzo,”

Græcia," "Rooke," "Kalymnos,'

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"

"

Adolphus," George R.," "Kawak," "Ery- manthos.' The Committee thought that it was not possible to impose on the shippers any charge for demurrage caused by the delays in loading the "Kalymnos," Mr. Holt reported that he under- Adolphus," and "George R." at Gibraltar.

were unsuitable for coal. He stood that both the "Kawak" and the " Erymanthos undertook to inquire what the Consulting Engineers to the Crown Agents would recommend should be done with the railway material discharged at Malta from the "Erymanthos."

13. 8.8 "Heinz."-The Secretary informed the Committee that Mr. Kellock had recommended that as long notice as possible should be given of the intention to sell this ship, and the Committee agreed that it might be postponed till afte Easter.

14. Steamships "Quarta,” “ Rajaburi."The Committee considered a draft agreement with Mr. Roberts's alterations in it. They thought that the following clauses required further consideration:-

Clause 1.-This clause should be drafted so as to provide that if a certificate of seaworthiness could not be given by the surveyor the contract should fall.

Clause 4.-The words permitting the vessel to lie aground should be deleted. Clause 5.-Insurance against war risks should be restored. The drafting of this clause generally should be discussed with Waltons & Company, but, if there did not appear to be any substantial objection to the words inserted by Mr. Roberts, the Committee were prepared to allow the clause to remain as drafted.

beyond his control" should Clause 6.-The words "unless prevented. be eliminated. The word "Singapore" should be altered to "Hong Kong."

Clause 7.-Waltons & Company should be asked to draft a proviso placing some reasonable limit upon the latitude to be allowed to the charterer in respect of the delivery of the vessel at the conclusion of the period of six months.

Clause 9.-In view of Waltons & Company's opinion, the words "cargoes and” might be omitted.

Clause 12.-The charterer should only be allowed to sublet by the consent of the Committee.

No. 6 in Appendix B.

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MINUTES.