PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
· Reference :—
ITC.O. 885
24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
80
CEYLON.
(a) Your telegram of 28th September, authorizing British owners of cargo lying in a neutral port in a ship owned by an enemy to pay freight, etc., to the agent of the shipowner in order to obtain possession of such cargo. This has been communicated to the officers concerned.
(b) Your cipher telegram of 28th September, recommending that this Colony should follow the precedent set by the Dominion Governments and provide the pay of the contingent in addition to initial and transport expenses.
To this I replied by my cipher telegram of 30th September, informing you that I agreed to your recommendations.
Steps will be taken to obtain the sanction of the Legislative Council for the necessary expenditure at a meeting fixed for 7th October next.
(c) Your cipher telegram of 29th September, regarding exports to a certain firm at Rotterdam.
Action has been taken in accordance with your instructions.
(d) Your cipher telegram of 29th September requesting me to prohibit the export of raw rubber from Ceylon except to the ports of Great Britain and her Allies, with certain modifications.
Before the Proclamation embodying this Proclamation had been issued, I re- ceived your cipher telegram of 2nd October, requesting me to make a further modification in favour of the United States of America.
I have accordingly issued a Proclamation in Government Gazette Extra- ordinary No. 6669, of 5th October (copy enclosed)* prohibiting the export of raw rubber to all ports except those of Great Britain and her Allies (excepting those of the Baltic Sea) and the United States of America.
(e) Your telegram of 29th September, regarding restrictions on the use of wireless telegraphy.
This was acknowledged by my telegram of 29th September, and steps have already been taken to give effect to your instructions.
(f) Your telegram of 2nd October, concerning the payment of fees connected with patents and the registration of designs or trade marks. I caused the officers concerned to be acquainted, for their guidance, with the action of the Board of Trade.
(g) Your telegram of 3rd October, received on 4th October, informing me of certain amendments made in the Prize Rules by Order in Council of 30th September.
In accordance with your instructions I am publishing these amendments forth- with.
2. I received on 30th September your cipher telegram of that date regard- ing the dealings of Messrs. Freudenberg & Company, with the firm of Messrs. Pellerin Fils, of Christiania.
The trade between Colombo firms and Messrs. Pellerin Fils had already been under my observation. Before the war, it appears, Messrs. Freudenberg & Company, have had extensive dealings with Messrs. Pellerin Fils, and inquiry supports the conclusion that the transactions now in question had reference to the fulfilment of pre-war contracts. Moreover, there is nothing here to show that Pellerin Fils is a branch of a German firm or that the transaction in question is not a bonâ fide trans- action with a neutral firm.
It therefore appears to me to be in accordance with the policy of His Majesty's Government (as set forth in your telegram of 21st September), to allow the busi- ness to proceed (vide paragraph 7 of my despatch of 29th September).†
A similar case has been brought to notice where business is being carried on by the Colombo firm of Messrs. Framjee Bhikajee & Company with the firm of Holst, in Christiania. Holst is evidently working with Pellerin Fils.
Unless it were decided by His Majesty's Government to prohibit the export of foodstuffs to neutral countries adjacent to Germany I cannot, as at present advised, see how I should be justified in interfering here with these transactions, though I deem it proper to bring the matter to your notice.
*Not reprinted.
↑ No. 88.
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CEYLON.
3. As regards the disposal of the prize ships, I have nothing to add to para- graph 3 of my despatch of 29th September,* beyond stating that I have now decided not to utilize the 8.8. "Furth" for the conveyance of the Ceylon contingent. The space thus made available has been let out to local shippers. I should have been glad of early replies, which I am still awaiting, to my cipher telegrams of 21st and 25th September to facilitate the disposal of the prize ships. I have invited your attention to this matter by my cipher telegram of 5th October, as I find that ship- ments by the "Furth" are now delayed owing to the uncertainty about insurance. The one vital need of Ceylon is to be able to ship her produce, and the "Emden's” exploits have had a serious influence in checking trade, an influence which anxious to counteract by replacing, and more than replacing, the cargo space which has been lost to Ceylon by the sinking of merchant ships by the "Emden."
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4. The prisoners of war interned at Ragama Camp now number 197, exclusive of 85 on parole. In connexion with this subject, I telegraphed to you on 29th Sep- tember (two telegrams) asking your instructions as to dealing with Henri Heine- mann, who claims release without signing a bond of neutrality, on the ground that he is a doctor in the Medical Corps of the Bavarian Army. I await your reply. I further telegraphed to you on 30th September the names of certain persons allowed to leave by the s.s. "Koningin Emma" after signing bonds of neutrality.
I have found it necessary to replace Mr. W. E. Wait, the Commandant of the Camp, by Major W. H. Robinson, First Assistant Superintendent of Prisons, owing (I regret to say) to Mr. Wait's continued ill-health.
5. The Ceylon contingent is now up to full strength (227) with a considerable number of applicants waiting for possible vacancies.
I have found it impracticable to despatch the contingent by the s.8. "Furth" and have arranged for it to be sent home by the Bibby steamer "Worcestershire," sailing from Colombo on or about 20th October. At the present moment difficulty has arisen by reason of the expressed inability of the Naval Commander-in-Chief on this station to convoy the contingent. I have telegraphed to the Admiral asking for an explicit statement from him whether it would be safe for the steamer to It depends on his reply whether I proceed with the contingent without convoy. am constrained to ask you to approach the Board of Admiralty in the matter.
6. As regards the financial position of the Colony at the close of the financial year, I shall address you in a separate despatch when I know the result of the transactions to the 30th ultimo of the Crown Agents for the Colonies. I need only say here that the position gives no cause for alarm, and may, indeed, in the circum- stances, be considered to be one of considerable strength. The local banks are in a strong position, and no main product is failing to sell freely at a fair profit over cost of production.
I have, &c.,
ROBERT CHALMERS,
43592/8
No. 35.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 7th November, 1914.)
(Confidential.)
SIR,
Governor.
The Queen's House, Colombo, Ceylon, 15th October, 1914. In continuation of my Confidential despatch of 8th October,† I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of the following telegraphic despatches:-
LI Aus- (a) Your telegram of 7th October, requesting me to await your instruc- tions before proceeding to the sale or chartering of the prize ships tralia," "Rappenfels," and "Moltkefels.”
I delayed action accordingly.
(b) Your telegram of 8th October, requesting me to telegraph to you a statement of the present position as regards the "Fürth" and her cargo.
* No. 88.
† No. 84.
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