CO885-24 — Page 64

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ONYLON.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

MICO. 885

24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

SIR,

Enclosure in No. 47.

The Morgan Crucible Company, Limited, 29th December, 1914. OUR friends, Messrs. Sale Frazar, of Tokyo, have asked us to quote for some 60 tons of plumbago to Moji.

We understand from our friends that the inquiry is for the Imperial Steel Works of Japan, and, in view of the notification in the Ceylon Government Gazette of 22nd October last, that shipments of plumbago to any but British ports are prohibited, we have the honour to inquire whether shipment to Moji in this case may be permitted, and, if so, under what conditions?

We have, meanwhile on 12th instant-suggested to our friends in Tokyo that we may be able to obtain permission from the Government of Ceylon to ship to them at Moji if they will furnish

with a letter of guarantee by

U8

the Government of Japan that the shipment is for them. We have the honour to inquire whether, on the production of such letter of guarantee, we shall be granted permission to make the shipment referred to?

As we have to cable our offer of the plumbago by the 2nd proximo, your reply before that date would be much appreciated.

The Honourable

The Colonial Secretary,

Colombo.

GENTLEMEN,

We have, &c.,

for the Morgan Crucible COMPANY, LIMITED,

ARTHUR D. ADAMB,

Manager.

Colonial Secretary's Office, Colombo, 1st January, 1915. With reference to your letter of the 29th December, 1914, with regard to the proposed exportation of 60 tons of plumbago to Tokyo, I am directed to inform you that His Excellency the Governor will be prepared to allow the shipment on the condition specified in your letter, viz., that Messrs. Sale Frazar, of Tokyo, furnish this Government with a letter of guarantee by the Government of Japan that the shipment in question is for them.

I have, &c.,

W. S. CHRISTOFFELSZ,

for Colonial Secretary.

Messrs. The Morgan Crucible Company, Limited,

5779

Colombo.

No. 48.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 4th February, 1915.)

(Confidential.)

The Queen's House, Colombo,

SIR,

Ceylon, 14th January, 1915. In continuation of my Confidential despatch of the 8th instant,* I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of the following telegraphic despatches :-

(a) Your telegram of the 6th January, expressing the appreciation of His Majesty's Government of the gift of a motor ambulance by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.

(b) Your telegram of the 7th January, announcing that the restrictions on the exportation of tea are about to be removed, and that, meanwhile, they need not be enforced.

In making your telegram public, I thought it desirable to warn exporters that they are not relieved of the necessity of satisfying themselves that shipments of tea to neutral countries are not really intended for the use of the enemy, and that failure to do so will render them liable to prosecution for trading with the enemy.

* No. 47.

(e) Your telegram of the 8th January, approving my proposals as to releasing condemned cargo of the "Moltkefels."

(d) Your telegram of the 9th January, giving directions as to the sale of the prize ship "Australia."

I have caused the necessary instructions to be issued.

(6) Your telegram of the 9th January, asking if there was any objec- tion to the employment of Mr. Coombs, of the Irrigation Department, under the War Office.

I replied on the 12th January that there is no objection.

(f) Your telegram of the 11th January, giving instructions as to the use of commercial telegraph codes.

(9) Your telegram of the 11th January, making inquiry as to the carrying out of contracts entered into before the war by Messrs. Freudenberg & Company.

I hope to send a reply shortly.

(h) Your telegram of the 12th January, inquiring as to the detention at Colombo of the s.s. "Woolwich," bound to Portugal with a cargo of rice from Rangoon.

Your directions will be acted on as soon as I am in possession of the facts and have made adequate investigation.

2. In continuation of paragraph 1 (d) of my Confidential despatch of 8th January, I have to acknowledge receipt of your telegram of 9th January, with reference to the site for the proposed wireless installation and to the erecting staff required, and asking for a report on the statement of the Officer Commanding the Troops that an expert had tested the Dondra site and found it unsuitable. The facts are that, in view of complaints that it was most difficult to communicate with vessels off the east coast of Ceylon from the wireless installation at Colombo, I caused a small experiment to be carried out in April-May last by the officer in charge of the wireless telegraph installation with a temporary one-k.w. apparatus erected on the lighthouse at Dondra Head. The apparatus was prepared by the officer himself, and was of a purely experimental character, having a range of from 100 to 300 miles. So far as it went the experiment was not unsuccessful, but it was not found possible to communicate farther than latitude 6o 50′ north on the east, and 6° 20′ north on the west. I enclose a copy of the report of the Post- master-General and its annexures. It was not considered advisable to proceed with the matter, in view of the outbreak of war. I acquainted you with these facts by my telegram of 12th January, having already informed you on the subject of the erecting staff in my telegram of 10th January, in which I requested that expert assistance might be provided to settle the important question of site.

I have also received your further telegram of 12th January. I have to thank you for the promise of expert assistance in the selection of the site, and will pro- ceed with the utmost despatch on the arrival of Lieutenant Cooke from Poona.

3. As you are aware from my Confidential despatch of 27th October, para- graph 1, and subsequent correspondence, I have caused the business of Messrs. Freudenberg & Company to be placed, as from 28th October, by order of Court, in the hands of a controller under the guidance of a committee of merchants, and to be administered in the interests of Ceylon.

It may be of interest to note that I have had various inquiries from local and other firms to lease or purchase the mills, beginning with the application for a lease from Messrs. Swan & Finch Company, of New York, communicated to me by your despatch No. 486, of 24th September last. Applications to purchase have been received from Messrs. Molchanoff Pechatnoff & Company, of Colombo, in September (vide paragraph 1 (5) of my Confidential despatch of 9th September last), from Messrs. Darley Butler & Company, of Colombo, in December (as to whom I would refer you to paragraphs 9-12 of my Confidential despatch of 17th December last), and, lastly, on the 11th instant, from Messrs. Harrisons & Crosfield, of London and Colombo (vide paragraph 7 of my Confidential despatch of 22nd October last**).

I have, &c.,

* No. 47. T 2

ROBERT CHALMERS,

Governor.

+ Not printed. No. 87. § 85524: not printed. | No. 80. No. 44. ** No. 86.

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OBYLON.