CO885-24 — Page 219

TPL

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 885

24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

112

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MINUTES.

It was

8. S.S. Marina."—Mr. Tennyson read extracts from a report which had been received from the captain who had been sent out by Messrs. Mitchell, Cotts and Company. It was agreed that the ship would not be suitable for a voyage to South Africa, and that, having regard to her condition, it would not be equitable to hold the charterer to his agreement, with which he did not wish to proceed. understood that Messrs. Elder Dempster and Company were willing to take over the ship at £150 per month. The Committee decided that they would take over the stores and instruments which had been sent out by Messrs. Mitchell, Cotts and Company; that the ship should be handed over to Messrs. Elder Dempster and Company at the rate mentioned; and that the officers sent out by Messrs. Mitchell, Cotts and Company should be taken over by the latter firm, the necessary arrange- ments in the matter being made directly between them and Messrs. Mitchell, Cotts and Company. Such of the officers as were not required by Messrs. Elder Dempster or the "Emir." The ship should should be brought home free, either by the "Lucia be hired to Messrs. Elder Dempster and Company for six months, and they should be required to insure her for a value of £9,000 and lodge the policies with the Com- mittee, but no formal charter need be arranged.

9.

8.8.

Emir."-The Secretary reported the sales, which had been effected by Messrs. Churchill and Sim, of the following consignments :-

10.

(a) 89 bags of wax.

(b) 29 bales of cotton.

(c) 5,986 pieces of cedar.

(d) 21 bags of capsicums.

(e) 70 bales of cotton.

Conditions of sale.-The Secretary informed the Committee that the French Government had appointed Messrs. H. Clarkson and Sons to act as their He was instructed to inform agent in connexion with the sale of prize ships.

Messrs. Lachlan that Messrs. Clarkson should be given fifteen days' notice in the Messrs. Kellock should be given similar case of any future sales of prize ships. instructions when any sale of a prize ship was to be carried out by them.

Messrs. Lachlan should also be informed of the provisions contained in a decree by the French Ministry as to the duties of the French Consul at the sale of prize ships.

11. 3.8. "Reichenfels."-The Secretary read to the Committee a telegram which had been received from the Governor-General of South Africa reporting the arrangements which had been made with the Admiralty for the conveyance of cargo from South Africa in this ship. The Transport Department were to be informed that the Committee were not concerned with the expenses of the voyage.

12. 8.0." Bellas."-The Secretary read a telegram from the Governor-General The Committee recom- of Canada stating that this ship had not been put into use. mended that a telegram should be sent to inquire whether the ship was empty, what was her condition, whether officers and crew could be provided locally, and, if so, what their pay would be. In the meanwhile Mr. Holt was to make inquiries as to whether he could obtain a firm of managers for the ship.

13. s.o." Yawry."-The Secretary read to the Committee a despatch from the Governor of Sierra Leone reporting that certain stores in this ship had been pro- The Committee agreed that the vided by the naval authorities in the Colony. expenses of these stores should fall on their funds, and they recommended that the Colonial Office should write to the Admiralty accordingly.

14.

8.0.

'Carl."-The Secretary read to the Committee a letter from Mr. R. W. Starkey stating that he was paying the premium for the insurances of this ship and expressing his opinion on the subject generally.

15.

8.8. "Australia.”—The Secretary read a letter from Messrs. Gray, Dawes and Company stating that it was proposed to dry-dock the steamer on the 14th of June and to renew the defective plate about which a report had been received from the Colonial Government. It was agreed that, as the Board of Trade surveyor would be in attendance during the replacing, no special representative of the Com- mittee need be appointed. Mr. Hipwood undertook to give the necessary instruc- tions to the surveyor.

16.

MINUTES.

113

Claim of the Egyptian Government for the refund of expenses in con- nexion with prize ships.—Mr. Malkin read to the Committee a despatch which had been received from the Egyptian Government stating that they had claims of the following nature in connection with enemy ships at Alexandria :-

(a) In connexion with the charter of the ships, maintenance of the crews, disabling of machinery, taking the ships round to Alexandria, etc.

(b) Port and lights dues owing by the ship to the Egyptian Administration. In respect of the destruction of a Customs shed (due to the ignition of copra er s.8. "Sudmark ").

It was agreed that the matter was not one which could be referred to the Prize Claims Committee, but that it should be sent to the Admiralty to consider.

994

THE FIFTY-EIGHTH MEETING of the Committee was held at the Colonial Office

on Monday. 14th June, 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. 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.

2. s.r. "Heinz."-The Committee agreed that Mr. J. N. Derbyshire might be accepted as surety to the bond providing for a penalty in the event of transfer to an enemy owner within five years from the termination of the war.

The Secretary informed the Committee that Mr. H. G. Kellock had advised him that any insurance policies in connexion with the mortgage of steamships sold under conditions allowing for deferred terms of payment should be retained in the custody of the brokers. The Committee agreed that this course should be adopted when the question arose.

3. 3.3. "Emir."-Mr. Evans reported that the Contract Department of the Admiralty considered that the prices at which the hemp and sisal off this ship had been disposed of were reasonable, having regard to the circumstances. The Contract Department also confirmed the statement that they had had dealings with the firm to whom the consignment had been sold. As the Secretary was expecting further information on the subject, the Committee decided to consider the matter again when full particulars had been received.

The Secretary reported the sale of 43 bales of cotton

4. s.s. "Concadoro."-Mr. Holt reported that this ship would not finish her discharge at Rouen until the 15th of June. The Committee were also informed that the former owners of the ship were applying to the Privy Council for a stay of execution.

5. 8.3. "Fürth."— -The Committee discussed whether the bill of sale for this ship should be made out to the British Tanker Company or to the Anglo-Persian Oil Company. The Chairman explained the position of the British Tanker Company, and stated that the Anglo-Persian Oil Company remained responsible for the whole of the business of the former. If the ship were transferred to the Anglo-Persian Oil Company the ship would come under the debenture deed of the Company, and they were anxious to avoid this, as it might lead to difficulties with the trustees. The Committee agreed that, as the purchase money would be paid up at once, there was no objection to the bill of sale being executed in favour of the British Tanker Company. As regards the payment of interest from the date on which the ship had been handed over to the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, the Committee decided to ask Messrs. Waltons and Company to press a claim for interest upon the Company's solicitors, so far as it was possible to do so.

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