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MINUTES.

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

MAC.O. 885

24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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THE THIRTY-SIXTH MEETING of the Committee was held at the Colonial Office on Thursday, the 18th of March, 1915, at 3.15 p.m.

The following members were present:--

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. C. HIPWOOD, 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).

1. The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed with two small alterations.

2. Coal for Egypt.-Having regard to the fact that the Egyptian Govern- ment had now informed the Foreign Office that they wished that the arrangements for purchasing coal and conveying it to Egypt should be made by the Admiralty, the Committee considered that it was unnecessary at present to take any further action until they were requested to do so by the Admiralty.

3. Conditions of Sale.-It was understood that His Majesty's Government had now agreed upon the terms upon which French citizens should be allowed to participate at sales of prize ships. The Committee thought that they might make arrangements on the assumption that sales would begin shortly after Easter, and that after that date as many ships should be sold as possible. The conditions of Bale for oversea ships should be discussed between Mr. Tennyson and Messrs. Waltons and Company. Mr. Malkin pointed out that, in the case of purchase by French citizens, it was unnecessary for a mortgage bond to be executed when deferred pay- ments were made, as the purchase money was guaranteed by the French Govern- ment. Moreover, no statutory declaration would be required from French citizens, as they would be prevented by law from disposing of the vessels to subjects of other nations within a period of five years from the date of sale.

4. 8.8. "Gracia."-The Committee were prepared to allow Mr. Holt to make arrangements to fix this ship with a cargo of coal to Marseilles or North Africa, and to bring back a general cargo. It was understood, however, that the voyage would not be for more than about six weeks.

5. 8.8.

"Rooke."-The Committee agreed that this ship could be fixed for the London coal trade, on the understanding that Messrs. Tyzack and Branfoot were to consult with Messrs. Newbigin and Everett as to the rate of charter and the firm to whom the ship was to be chartered.

Mr. Holt informed the Committee that he had stipulated that Messrs. Tyzack and Branfoot's commission was to be reduced from 5 per cent. to 24 per cent. on disbursements, the 11 per cent. on freight remaining as before.

Adolphus,"

George R."

6. Steamships

Kalymnos."-The Committee decided to put these three ships up for sale, the date to be fixed at a later meeting.

Mr. Holt arranged to send instructions to the brokers to collect 30s. per ton net in respect of the freight upon copper brought by these ships from Gibraltar.

"

7. Steamships “Kawak," Erymanthos."-The Committee thought that these ships might be placed temporarily in the London coal trade. They had no desire to alter the rate of commission payable to Mr. James Knott, providing he understood that the profits on which his commission was to be reckoned were net. Arrangements would subsequently have to be made for deducting from the account such sums as would have been necessary to meet the cost of insurance had the ships been actually insured against marine and war risks.

In connexion with the discussion upon insurance, Mr. Hipwood stated that if a question arose of compensation in respect of injuries attributable to war risks, and, therefore, not provided for under the protection and indemnity insurances, the matter could be placed in the hands of the Board of Trade to deal with.

8.

2.8. "Fürth.”—It was decided that moneys collected by Messrs. Harrisons for freight, in respect of the voyage of this ship from Ceylon, should be paid to the Crown Agents, who would account to the Marshal of the Colombo Frize Court. The sum would eventually be accounted for by the Court to the Prize Fund.

9. Large Sailing Ships. Mr. Holt gave the Committee an outline of John Stewart & Company's proposals with regard to the employment of one or more of these ships, and added that he would be in a position to inform the Committee at their following meeting of the rate of remuneration which the firm would be willing to accept if the management of one of these ships were placed in their hands. He stated that Messrs. Houlder, Middleton & Company and Mr. T. A. Shute were each also prepared to take over one of these ships,

The Committee agreed that, in view of the representations made by the Governor of British Honduras as to the importance of shipping cargo from that Colony Mr. Starkey should be asked whether he was prepared to revise his offer for the * Carl."

10. Small Sailing Ships-The Committee arranged that the "Heinrich,” “Katharina," and the Tommi " should be requisitioned and used temporarily as a store for the cargo of the “Emir." They agreed that otherwise Colonel Leslie's proposals for putting these ships into use were satisfactory.

that arrangements would be made with the following firme:~~-

Fisher Alimonda & Company, London.

James Livingstone & Company, Grangemouth. Hannan, Samuel & Company, of Fowey.

11. Steamships

<4

It was understood

"Gutenfels," Barenfels." 'Lauterfels,"

Werdenfels."

-A report having been received through Messrs. Botterell and Roche that there from the Alexandria were difficulties in obtaining a valuation of the "Gutenfels

Com- Prize Court, the Committee agreed to the proposal that Messrs. Grahams pany should ask Messrs. Kellock & Company to value the ship as if she were in good condition, and that that valuation should be accepted for the purposes of the agreement with the representatives.

The Committee approved of the agreement with Messrs. Grahams & Company for the management of the four ships after they had discharged their cargo.

12. Alexandria Ships.-The Committee agreed that Mr. Holt might make

Pindos," and "Helgoland.” arrangements to fix the "Altair,"

13.

8.8. "Syra."--Mr. Holt informed the Committee that this ship had been fired at Alexandria at the rate of 30s. per ton.

Mr. Tennyson pointed out that no arrangements had been made by the Attorney- General at Gibraltar for making the owners of the released cargo bear a proportion of the cost of the voyage to Alexandria. The Committee thought that it was too late to issue any instructions in regard to this, and that the whole cost must be borne out of the proceeds of the enemy cargo and any unpaid freight that might be collected.

The Committee agreed that the insurance of the released cargo should be calculated on the basis of the appraised value. Mr. Malkin undertook to inform the authorities at Alexandria to this effect.

LI

the

14. Steamships Quarta," “Rajaburi.”—The following points in draft agreement with Mr. Roberts, which had been discussed with Sir Henry Johnson, were again considered by the Committee.

Clause 1. The Committee agreed that Mr. Roberts's alterations might be accepted, provided that Messrs. Waltons & Company saw no objection to them.

Clause 12. The Committee agreed to accept Sir Henry Johnson's suggestion that the charterer might be allowed to sublet to a substantial British subject carrying on business in the United Kingdom to be approved by the Committee.

8.8. “Emir.”—A letter from Messrs. Churchill and Sim, relative to the sale of hemp and sisal, was read, and the Committee agreed that their brokers might be authorized to dispose of these commodities, provided that the buyers would take immediate delivery. Before writing to the brokers, however, they thought that inquiries should be made as to whether the Admiralty wished to purchase the hemp.

15.

The Committee proceeded to consider Messrs. Waltons & Company's recom- mendations in regard to the applications which had been received for the release

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