CO885-24 — Page 49

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PUBLIC RECORD

OFFICE

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· Reference :----

C.O. 985

24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

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CEYLON.

them and to the Colony, of accounts. In accepting the Army Council's decision, I have the honour to enclose a nominal roll, giving the names of all ranks of the contingent, in respect of whom alone, during their service with the contingent, payment has to be made by this Government.

I telegraphed to you on 16th November, in answer to your telegram of 13th November, requesting you to instruct the Crown Agents to commence monthly advances to the War Office on 1st December.

Since embarkation the contingent has received cash advances, I may here mention, to the amount of £900, for pay, etc., on the voyage to England, estimated As the force has, I learn, already been disem- to end with the current month. barked in Egypt, it will be necessary to communicate with them as to details to date, and this will be done, a further communication being addressed to you subsequently thereon.

(g) Your telegram of 14th November, regarding the duty on tea and other articles intended for troops at home.

The information is being conveyed to the parties concerned.

(h) Your telegram of 14th November, re Mr Winthrop. -

Mr. Winthrop has been duly informed.

(i) Your telegram of 16th November, authorizing the exportation of plumbago to the United States of America under proper guarantees. Action is being taken accordingly.

(j) Your telegram of 18th November, regarding the treatment of natives of Cyprus and of Egyptian subjects.

Your instructions have been duly noted.

(*) Your telegram of 17th November, asking that a report should be sent when a ship is brought in or detained for contraband.

Report will be made accordingly, should occasion arise.

(4) Your cipher telegram of 17th November, regarding certain cargo on the "Euphrates."

Information will be sent in due course.

(m) Your telegram of 18th November, asking for copies of Regulations made under Section 5 (h) and (†) of Ordinance 15 of 1914.

The Regulations are now under consideration, and copies will be forwarded to you after publication.

(n) Your telegram of 18th November, regarding the statement of prisoner of war Adolf Hermann.

The prisoner will now be allowed to proceed on his journey to China.

(0) Your telegram of 19th November, authorizing the shipment of 3,000 tons of copra to Denmark.

Shipment will be allowed accordingly.

(p) Your cipher telegram of 19th November, re the firm of Vander- berg. of Rotterdam.

In reply, I beg to refer you to my Confidential despatch of 22nd October,* and would add that public attention was drawn to the circular in question—a copy of which was sent you as Annexure MI. to the despatch above referred to.

2. Adverting to paragraph 1 (b) of my despatch of 12th November,† I enclose the Proclamationst issued in Government Gazette Extraordinary, No. 6881, of 12th November.

3. With reference to paragraph 4 of my despatch of 22nd October,* and paragraph 6 of that of 5th November, I telegraphed to you on 14th November, informing you of the impending departure, by Bibby Line steamship "Derby. shire," of the body of intending recruits raised by Mr. P. H. Milward, of Colombo. I was gratified to receive your reply on the 17th instant, and to learn that the men will be met by a recruiting officer on their arrival in England. It is expected that this body of men will number seventy-five in all-the efforts to raise a total of one hundred having failed for reasons other than financial, as more money was forthcoming than was ultimately needed.

4 As regards enemy subjects in Ceylon, I enclose a copy of a report from the Inspector-General of Police, which shows the present position with sufficient clearness.

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1 also enclose, for your information, copy of a diary of a German, employed by Messrs. George Boysen & Company, which has recently come into my posses- sion. Incidentally, this is of interest as showing the attitude of the local German residents at the beginning of the war.

5. I received, on 17th November, a telegram from the Governor-General of Australia, asking that the prohibition of export of raw rubber from Ceylon might be waived in favour of shipments to Australia-the Commonwealth Government undertaking to prevent exportation other than directly in the interests of the Empire, and having already prohibited exportation of rubber in any form from Australia except with the consent of the Minister of Trade and Customs.

The Government of Australia has relaxed its regulations regarding exporta tion of foodstuffs in favour of Ceylon, and I was anxious to meet its wishes with regard to rubber. I therefore telegraphed to you on 18th November, asking your consent to the desired relaxation of the rule regarding exportation of rubber from Ceylon.

I received your reply of the 18th instant next morning, and was pleased to learn that the expression "British ports" was meant to include Colonial ports of the British Empire, and that there was nothing to hinder me from acceding to the request of the Governor-General.

A similar question having arisen as regards Canada, in an inquiry from a Colombo merchant, I have placed myself in telegraphic communication with the Governor-General of the Dominion in order to ascertain whether, under similar guarantees as regards export, Canada desires treatment similar to that accorded to Australia.

6. The local contributions to the Prince of Wales's Fund have reached a total of Rs. 395,000. A further sum of £5,000 was remitted to the Crown Agents by telegram on the 16th instant.

7. I enclose a copy of a letter, dated the 20th instant, from the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, transmitting a cheque for Rs. 6,000 for a motor ambulance. By telegram, dated the 20th instant, I requested that the Crown Agents might be instructed to pay over £400 accordingly for the purposes desired by the Chamber, and I shall hope to receive, in due course, an acknowledgment of the Chamber's generous gift.

8. As regards the general commercial outlook of the Colony, I enclose, for your information, copy of a letter from the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, dated 17th November. In this connexion I invite your attention to my Confidential despatch of 13th August last, paragraphs 12 and 13 of which are borne out by the actual experience of the intervening three months.

I have, &c.,

Enclosure 1 in No. 40.

ROBERT CHALMERS,

Governor.

The Queen's House, Colombo, 19th November, 1914.

THE COMMANdant of the CEYLON VOLUNTEER FORCE,

On the 6th instant, as you are aware, I telegraphed inquiring whether an offer of a contingent drawn from the Ceylon Light Infantry would be acceptable for service in Egypt at British rates of pay, etc., the cost to be borne by the Ceylon Government. On the 12th instant, as you are also aware, I was informed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies that His Majesty's Government gratefully accepted the offer of a hundred picked volunteers for service in Egypt."

The revised arrangements at Ragama and Diyatalawa, now approaching com- pletion, render it practicable to proceed with the selection of the men from the corps (as already mobilized), and I request that you will take forthwith the neces- sary steps--basing your selection solely on military efficiency-with special reference to musketry records, but without regard to race or creed.

• No. 26.

* No. 86.

+ No. 89.

↑ Not reprinted.

I No. 88.