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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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C.O. 885

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14.

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s.v. "Yawry."-The Committee recommended that a telegram should be sent to the Governor of Sierra Leone asking him to report whether this ship had proceeded to Dakar and what had been done about the coal.

15. Report on position of Ships.-The Committee also discussed the position of the following ships: 8.8. Kalymnos," 8.8. "Erymanthos," 8.8. Græcia," 8.8. "Pindos," 8.8. "Helgoland," and the s.v. Chile" and s.v. Carl."

16. 3.8. "Hamm," 8.s. "Apolda."-The Committee agreed that the Federal Steam Navigation Company might be reimbursed the sum of £6,066 15s. in respect of their expenses at Cape Town.

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17. 8.5. Senegambia."-The Committee discussed a telegram from the Governor of Hong Kong reporting that the Court had made the necessary order with regard to this ship.

Mr. Holt undertook to make inquiries as to the trade in which the ship had hitherto been employed in the Far East.

18. 8.8. "Paklat."-Mr. Tennyson pointed out to the Committee that, as this ship had been condemned, it was open to them to sell her if that course were thought convenient. The Committee decided that Messrs. C. W. Kollock and Company should be consulted as to whether she should be sold in this country while lying at Hong Kong.

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19. s.8. “Gutenfels,” s.8. “Barenfels," 8.8. Lauterfels," 8.8. Werdenfels," -The Secretary informed the Committee that Messrs. Waltons had reported that their legal charges for negotiating the agreements were 50 guineas. The Committee approved this sum.

The Secretary was directed to write to the Customs authorities in London saying that Messrs. Grahams and Company were the Committee's agents for the discharge of the cargo on the "Lauterfels " and the "Werdenfels," and asking them to accept the Company's guarantee in respect of any missing papers which might in ordinary circumstances be required.

The Port of London Authority should be asked to expedite the docking and discharging of these steamers as much as possible.

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A telegram from the Government of Bombay relative to the arrangements made for the discharge of the cargo of the Gutenfels " was considered, and Mr. Malkin was asked to interview a representative of Messrs. Grahams and Company on the subject.

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THE FORTY-sixth MeetING of the Committee was held at the Colonial Office on Thursday, 29th April, 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 one alteration. 2. Arrangements with the Transport Department.-Mr. Kemball-Cook and Mr. Royden attended the Committee to represent the Transport Department. The Committee then discussed the proposals which had been made by that Department for taking over the control of prize and detained ships.

Mr. Kemball-Cook explained that the position of the Transport Department generally was that they could make use of all the prize and detained ships, either for additional requirements or to release other ships. As regards the objects for

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which the Transport Department were utilizing ships, he stated that proposals were under consideration by the Board of Admiralty for the conveyance to the United Kingdom of sugar which had been bought by the Sugar Commission. He also stated that requisitioned ships were being utilized to a certain extent for the conveyance of coal and iron ore for the War Office, but that otherwise the ships under the con- trol of the Transport Department were only used for the conveyance of troops and material required for naval or military purposes, and of stores for the account of various Government Departments.

The Committee then considered the position as regards (a) detained ships and (b) condemned ships, with a view to drafting a report. The Committee's list of ships was also discussed in detail with Mr. Kemball-Cook,

As regards (b) condemned ships, the Chairman explained to Mr. Kemball-Cook the attitude of the French Government and the negotiations which had taken place with regard to the bidding at sales by French citizens. Mr. Kemball-Cook repre- sented that large quantities of stores were being carried for the French Government in requisitioned ships, and that the effect of selling prizes, to French citizens would be to place an additional amount of tonnage in French hands when it might as well be employed in carrying stores for the French Government. He also pointed out that it was reported that there were a great many German ships held up in French ports which had not been utilized at all by the French Government. The Chairman suggested that possibly if the French Government were approached they would allow the ships to be run by the Admiralty for the conveyance of some of the French stores already referred to. Mr. Malkin asked whether the Transport Department were proposing to take over all the enemy ships in the United Kingdom awaiting sale or adjudication, and Mr. Kemball-Cook promised to inquire what was being done to these ships. As regards the value at which the ships were to be taken over by the Transport Department, Mr. Kemball-Cook stated that the Transport Department would have no objection to giving an undertaking to pay over the value as at the date of requisitioning.

It was explained that the Committee had no power to hand over prizes to the Transport Department without obtaining the consent of His Majesty's Govern- ment. The Committee decided, however, to submit a report on the lines of the dis- cussion with Mr. Kemball-Cook, together with their recommendations in the matter. Pending the decision of His Majesty's Government it was agreed that the prizes should continue to be run by the Committee for the account of the Transport Department, who were to inform the Secretary of the purposes for which they were needed.

Mr. Kemball-Cook then withdrew, and the Committee discussed the terms of their report to the Treasury.

3. 8.8. "Senegambia.”—Mr. Holt informed the Committee that he had learned that this ship was unsuitable for trade in the Far East. The Committee agreed that he should make arrangements to fix her and bring her home to the United Kingdom.

4. 3.8.

Josephina." Mr. Holt stated that the Falkland Islands Company wished to buy another 300 tons of coal on board this ship. The Committee agreed to the sale being concluded.

5.

8.8. "Kawak."-Mr. Holt reported that a survey was required of the boilers, but he had no detailed information on the subject. The Committee asked him to make further inquiries.

6. Steamships “Hamm" and "Apolda.”—Mr. Tennyson informed the Com- mittee that a telegram had been received from persons at Amsterdam representing about one quarter of the Java cargo, to the effect that they did not wish their cargo taken to Singapore. In view of this expression of opinion and of the fact that no further information had been received from persons interested in the rest of the Dutch cargo, the Committee agreed that it might all be turned out at Australia.

The Committee discussed a telegram from South Africa asking whether these. ships could be used to bring sleepers from Australia to South Africa for the Government railway, and maize from South Africa to the United Kingdom. Mr. Tennyson had ascertained that 25,000 tons required to be shipped to Durban and Capetown, which would involve two voyages by each ship, and that a freight of 358. 6d. a load was offered for sleepers, 10s. being the Government's contract rate for maize. He added, however, that he understood that the Union Government had

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