CO885-24 — Page 57

101

CEYLON.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :—

C.O. 885

24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGR

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- OT TO

52002/8

No. 42.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

(Confidential.)

(Received 28th December, 1914.)

SIB,

The Queen's House, Colombo, Ceylon, 3rd December, 1914. In continuation of my Confidential despatch, of 24th November,* I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of the following telegraphic despatobés :---

(a) Your telegram of 24th November, in reply to my telegram of 21st November, regarding an order made under the Prize Court rules.

I have communicated the contents of this telegram to the officers concerned.

(b) Your telegram of 26th November, asking for certified copies of all orders of Court and other information affecting the prize ship "Fürth" and her eargo went to London.

I replied to you by telegraph on 3rd December, and will forward full details in a separate despatch.

(c) Adverting to paragraph 5 of my despatch of 20th November,† and paragraph 1 (c) of despatch of 24th November," in view of the long land Frontier between Canada and the United States of America I had hesitated to allow export of rubber to Canada while export to the United States of America was forbidden, and I therefore addressed to you my telegram of 24th November inquiring whether such export might be allowed.

In conformity with your telegraphic reply, of 25th November, I am now allowing export of rubber to Canada.

() Your telegram of 26th November, informing me that my recom- mendations of Lieutenants Brind and Durham for commissions had been accepted by the War Office.

Lieutenant Brind is already in England, attached (I believe) to the Royal Field Artillery.

I have informed Lieutenant Durham, and await the further instructions promised.

(e) Your telegram of 27th November, advising me that my proposals - as regards the "Steinturm" and "Molthufels" were approved.

I will inform you, as desired, when the vessels leave Colombo.

(f) Your telegram of 27th November, regarding the interests of Messrs. Henry R. Merton & Company in head and zine concentrates on the prize ship "Fürth."

The Law Officers of the Crown have been informed accordingly, and I replied to you by telegraph on 2nd December

(9) Your telegram of 27th November, expressing the gratitude of His Majesty's Government for the help afforded both to the Government and its allies by the various parts of the Empire.

I have caused your telegram to be published.

(h) Your cipher telegram of 30th November, regarding certain modifica-

tions in the Censorship regulations.

I have informed the Chief Censor accordingly.

(1) Your telegram of 80th November, advising me that gifts intended

for British troops serving in the Colonies should be admitted free of customs daty.

Your instructions have been duly noted.

(j) Your telegram of 1st December, regarding Prize Court fees.

I will report early by telegraph on this matter.

(Tor telegram of 1st December, with reference to the prize ship "Fürth."

Report will be made by telegraph in answer to your inquiries.

2. As regards enemy subjects now in Ceylon, I annex copy of a report from the Inspector-General of Police, showing the position on 30th November last. The female enemy subjects entered as "interned" in Ceylon are so interned with their husbands in the Diyatalawa camp at their own request.

• No. 41.

+ No. 40.

3. Local contributions to the Prince of Wales's War Fund, up to 20th November last, amounted to Rs.431,769-62.

4. Adverting to paragraph 1 (c) of my Confidential despatch of 20th November, the enrolment of volunteers for the Ceylonese contingent for service in Egypt is now almost completed.

The enrolled strength of the Ceylon Light Infantry is 1,000; the number of applications to join the contingent was 173 only; the number chosen by the military authorities was 109.

I hope to send the contingent up to Diyatalawa early next week for preliminary training pending the completion of arrangements for their despatch to Egypt about the middle of January.

5. Thinking that it may be of interest to you, I have caused an estimate to be prepared of the number of Europeans who have left Ceylon as volunteers for active service at home.

The total European population between the ages of 18 and 87 is estimated at 2,245; while the number of Ceylon Europeans who have volunteered here or at home is believed to be over 500, or about 22 per cent. of the total male European population of military age. In addition, roughly double this number remains in the Colony, serving in the mobilized Engineer Volunteers and in the two Planter Corps and the Colombo Town Guard. I may add that men are still going home individually as opportunity offers.

6. I have nothing of special interest to add to the remarks in my previous despatches on the general satisfactory condition of the Colony

7. Adverting to the last paragraph of my Confidential despatch of 22nd October, † I enclose, for your information:—

(a) Extract from Times of Ceylon, of 21st November.‡ (5) Extract from Times of Ceylon, of 23rd November.‡

I was advised by the Attorney-General that the libel was too vague to justify legal proceedings.

(c) Extract from Times of Ceylon, of 25th November.‡ From this latter extract, as you will observe, it appears that no information was supplied to the "Emden " from Colombo.

SIR,

I have, &o..

ROBERT CHALMERS,

Governor.

Enclosure in No. 42.

ENEMY SUBJECTS IN CEYLON.

1st December, 1914.

Office of the Inspector-General of Police, Colombo,

I WAVE the honour to report that the present position is as follows:-- A.-Male Enemy Subjects.

1.-Local.

Original number: 88.

Committed suicide

1

Exempted as Alsatians

2

Exempted by His Excellency the Governor from reporting. (Mr. C. Zanetti, Irrigation Engineer in the service of Government)

84

88

(d) Sent by the police to camp for internment

N.B. Total number now interned in Ceylon : 84.

2. Removed from Ships in the Harbour and from Prixas.

Sent to camp

***

(Of which number eleven were subsequently discharged by order of the Governor, and have left the island.) N.B. Total number now interned in Ceylon: 222.

+ No. 86.

Not reprinted.

• No. 40.

233

B. Female Enemy Subjects.

1.—Interned in Diyatalawa.

102

CEYLON

(a) From ships in harbour (and 2 children)

(b) From Colombo (residents)

From Central Province (residents)

From Southern Province (residents)