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MINUTES.

THE FORTY-Fourth MebTING of the Committee was held at the Colonial Office on Thursday, 22nd April, 1915, at 9.15 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).

Mr. Hipwood was only present during the discussion of 1, 2, and 3, and Lieutenant-Colonel Leslie was present during the discussion of 3.

1. The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed, with one small correction.

2. Arrangements with the Transport Department of the Admiralty.—A letter from the Director of Transports was read, and the Secretary was instructed as to the reply to be sent.

3. Agreement with Messrs. Newbigin and Everett.-The Committee decided that in Clause 16 of the Agreement the allowance of £100 in respect of each ship to Messrs. Newbigin and Everett should not continue for more than thirty days after the completion of the last voyage of each ship, and that in Clause 17 the Agreement should not be prolonged in respect to any particular ship for more than six weeks from the date of the Treaty of Peace, or thirty days from the date of the completion of the last voyage, whichever was the longer.

Colonel Leslie was also asked to insert in every future charter a clause limiting its duration to the period stated or "the signature of the Treaty of Peace, which- ever is sooner."

4.

8.8. "Gibraltar.”—The Secretary informed the Committee that he had received no reply to his letter to the Admiralty asking whether the Transport Department wished to take over this ship. Mr. Hult stated that he understood that a naval officer had been sent to see the ship and had asked that the boilers should be opened up, but the Committee agreed that no action should be taken to open up the ship until an arrangement had been made with the Transport Department. The Secretary was instructed to write to the Admiralty generally, saying that, as no answer had been received to his letter, the Committee assumed that the ships would not be required by the Transport Department.

Mr. Holt presented to the Committee Messrs. Houlder, Middleton and Company's account for the voyage of the ship to the United States. The Secretary was to write to Messrs. Parker, Garrett and Company and ask them for particulars of the freights, in order that the necessary calculation might be made under Clause 8 of the Agreement with the representatives.

The Committee agreed that Messrs. Churchill and Sim might be instructed to dispose of the lascars' stores on the ship.

5. 8.8. “Concadoro."-The Secretary was instructed to ask the Admiralty whether the Transport Department wished to take over this ship, and to say that unless the Committee learned that they wished to do so she would be put up to sale.

6. 8.8. "Quarta," 8.8. Rajaburi."-The Secretary stated that Sir Henry Johnson had learned from Mr. Roberts's solicitors that Mr. Roberts refused to pay any of the expenses which had been incurred in connexion with the negotiations with him. It was understood therefore that the Committee must either hold him to his Agreement or must let him off entirely. The Committee decided to accept his withdrawal.

It was then decided to accept the offer which had been made by John Swire and Sons, particulars of which had been communicated to the Committee at their previous meeting.

MINUTES.

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The Committee recommended that the Governor of Hong Kong should be informed of the arrangements to be made for an inventory of the stores on board the "Rajaburi.”

7. Alexandria Steamers.-The Committee decided to take no further action in regard to these ships pending a settlement of the general question with the Transport Department.

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8. 3.8. "Gutenfels," 8.8. "Barenfels.”—An arrangement with certain banks

which had been proposed by the Procurator at Alexandria, relative to the disposal A letter had of the enemy cargo on these ships, was considered by the Committee. been received from Grahams and Company stating that the banks had agreed to the proposal to take over all the goods concerned at invoice value, and to pay interest at 4 per cent. from the date of the realization of the proceeds of the enemy cargo sold by them. The Committee decided to accept the arrangement.

The Committee recommended that a telegram should be sent to the local Customs authorities in India and Ceylon, at the ports at which these ships were discharging, to ask them to give the necessary facilities for the discharge of the

cargo.

The Secretary informed the Committee that he had received the insurance policies in respect of the " Barenfels.”

9. 8.0. Chile," Mr. Holt informed the Committee that the Board of Trade surveyor had reported that the rudder which had been damaged must be unshipped. It was understood that a further report would be received as to the repairs to be effected.

10. s.." Neath."-Mr. Holt informed the Committee that the two Cardiff firms who had been mentioned had been approached as to the freight which they were willing to pay for the conveyance of their pit-props, but that they had proposed terms which were considerably below the market rates. The Committee agreed that they must pay the current rate of freight if they wished to obtain the use of the ships.

11. Report on position of Ships. Mr. Holt reported to the Committee as to the "Lucia," "Kawak," "Adolphus," "George R.,"*" 'Lorenzo," "Kalymnos," and "Græcia."

12. 8.0.

'Carl."-The Committee agreed that Messrs. Frazer and Company,

who had presented a claim for stores supplied to the ship before the declaration of the war, should be informed that their account must be forwarded to the Prize Claims Committee.

13. s.s. "Fürth."—It was decided that the Agreement for the sale of this ship to the Anglo-Persian Oil Company must provide that the ship should not be trans- ferred to any foreign subject within five years from the sale, and that it was unnecessary to provide in the Agreement that the Company were not under foreign control.

14. 8.8. "Basilan" (late "Tannenfels ").—A telegram had been received from the Governor of Hong Kong stating that this ship would not be required for trans- port purposes after the 6th May. The Committee recommended that confirmation of this should be obtained from the Transport Department of the Admiralty, and crew could be that the Governor of Hong Kong should be asked whether a provided locally.

"Elfriede" (at Fiji).-The Committee were informed that the Governor of Fiji had been instructed to bring this ship before the Prize Court. They agreed that Messrs. Burns, Philp should be asked whether they could utilize her in the Tonga trade.

15. 8.0.

16. s.s." Tandem (late "Birkenfels ").—The Governor-General of Australia had inquired whether the 5 per cent, commission payable to the Federal Steam Navi- gation Company was intended to cover any services beyond those of discharging the cargo into the Government warehouses in Australia. The Committee pointed out that there was a special item in the account of the Federal Steam Navigation Com- pany to cover agency services and collection. It was agreed that Mr. Tennyson should discuss the matter with Mr. Allan Hughes.

The Committee recommended that inquiries should be made of the South African Government as to what had been done in regard to the registration of the ship.

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