CO885-24 — Page 221

MINUTES.

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 885

24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

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MINUTES.

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Africa if an arrangement could be arrived at with the Norwegian owners. Committee recommended that inquiries should first be made of the Governor of the Falkland Islands as to the amount of coal and stores on board and the ship's draught of water.

9.

8.5. Emir." The sale of the cargo of hemp and sisal on this ship was again discussed. It was thought that it would be best if Mr. Tennyson would inter- view representatives of Messrs. Churchill and Sim and Messrs. Bastone and Firminger and report upon the matter to the Committee.

10. Sailing Vessels " Carl," "Llandaff," "Neath."-The Committee approved of the payment of the accounts of Messrs. C. W. Kellock and Company for £9 each Carl" and "Llandaff," and of £21 68. for for the inventories of the sailing vessels

They also noted that £64 and £5, respectively, the inventory of the s.v. "Neath." had been received in respect of the sale of the slop-chests on the s.v. "Neath" and the 8.v. "Llandaff," respectively, and they approved of the payment of £9 18. and 58. in connexion with the expenses of these sales.

11. s.s. “Erymanthos."-The Secretary informed the Committee of the sub- stance of a letter which had been sent by the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company to the Director of Transports, and a copy of which had been forwarded by the Company to the Colonial Office. It was agreed that no action need be taken in the matter pending the arrival of the letter which it was understood the Transport Depart- ment proposed to address to the Committee on the subject.

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12 Valuation of Condemned Ships.-The Secretary reported that Admiralty had agreed to the ('ommittee's proposals for the valuation of condemned ships taken over by the Transport Department independently of the Committee. In accordance with these arrangements instructions were to be sent to Messrs. Kellock and Messrs. Lachlan to value the ships concerned.

13. s.s. "Kalymnos."-The Committee approved of the payment of Messrs. Lachlan's account for the valuation of this ship and of the consumable stores.

14. s.s. "Syra."-The Committee approved of the payment of Messrs. Kellock and Company's account for the valuation of this ship.

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15. S.S. Grahamland."—It was understood that the Admiralty would be unlikely to purchase the timber which the Government of British Columbia wished to export. Mr. Holt undertook to inform the Agent-General that this was the case, and that he must make the necessary arrangements for disposing of the timber before If he could do so at an early date, the this ship could be fixed to load a cargo home. Committee would arrange for the ship to carry the timber at the best rate of freight. 16. 8.8. Derfflinger."-The War Office were to be asked to make an early payment on account to Messrs. Green and Company, who had renewed their request to be put in funds.

17.

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s.s. "Thor."-The Committee considered an account which had been ren- Thor" dered by Messrs. Farrar, Groves and Company for the first voyage of the “ from the West Indies. Mr. Holt was asked to examine the account.

18. 8.3. “Australia."--The Secretary reported that it had not been possible to The Committee decided that the take any action to repair the defective plate. British India Steam Navigation Company should be asked to agree to a settlement in cash.

19.

s.s. "Moltkefels."-Mr. Wakely raised the question as to who should be liable for the cost of the voyage of this ship from Alexandria to Karachi. The Com- mittee agreed that they would be liable.

20. Austrian Ships held up in Italian Ports.-Mr. Malkin reported that the Foreign Office had been dealing with the Transport Department, the Wheat Com- mittee, and the London Chamber of Commerce, with regard to these ships, but that The London Chamber of Com- no definite arrangements had yet been concluded. merce were anxious to have the ships taken to their ports of destination to unload their original cargoes, an agreement being concluded on the lines of that arranged for the 8.8. Gutenfels." After their discharge he understood that the Transport Department, or in certain cases the Wheat Committee, would be willing to take over

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these ships. It appeared, however, that there was no adequate machinery in the Foreign Office for the conclusion of agreements on the lines of that for the "Guten- fels," and he suggested that it would be convenient if the matter could be put into the hands of the Committee. The Committee saw no objection to this on the under- standing that the proposals were concurred in by the Transport Department and that full authority was obtained from the Italian Government. It was agreed that an extension of the Committee's terms of reference would be necessary if the arrangement went through.

1034

THE SIXTIETH MEETING of the Committee was held at the Colonial Office on Monday, 21st 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. G. L. BARSTOW, C.B., Treasury.

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.

5.8. "Erymanthos."-The Committee discussed a letter from the Transport Department, forwarding a copy of a letter from the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, which had been discussed at the previous meeting. The Secretary was instructed to acknowledge the receipt of the letter from the Transport Department.

Gracia."-Mr. Holt was authorized to find temporary employment for this ship if he could do so.

3. 8.8.

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4. 8.8. Altair." The Committee considered the terms of a letter from the Transport Department, explaining that this ship was particularly suitable for transport purposes. In these circumstances they agreed to hand her over to that Department. Messrs. Lachlan and Company were to be instructed to value the ship in accordance with the usual arrangement.

5.

8.0.

"Bellas."-The Committee recommended that a telegram should be sent to the Governor-General of Canada saying that it was proposed to employ the ship to bring lumber to the United Kingdom, and asking if officers and crew could be obtained locally for this purpose, and at what cost.

The original cargo should be sold under the authority of the Treasury decision approving the recommendations of the Fifth Interim Report of the Committee.

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6. Other ships.-The Committee also discussed the position of the " Adolphus," 'George R.," Emil," 'Thor," "Koerber," "Istria," Grahamland," "Frisia," "Lorenzo," and "Bangor."

7. Steamships "Derfflinger," "Lutzow," "Haidar Pasha," and "Goslar.". It was agreed that these ships might be definitely handed over to the Transport Department, as they were required for military purposes. The Transport Depart- ment were, however, to be asked to settle up the accounts for these ships as soon as possible.

It was agreed that the further accounts for the "Derfflinger" which had been received from Messrs. F. Green and Company should be forwarded to the War Office.

8. 8.8. "Kawak."-Mr. Holt reported that this ship would have discharged her cargo about the 9th July. He was requested to ask Messrs. Strick and Company if there was any wheat to be shipped from the Persian Gulf, and, if so, he was authorized to fix the ship accordingly. Failing any cargo from the Persian Gulf, he was to fix the ship with the Wheat Committee.

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