PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O.
8855 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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SIR,
292
Enclosure in Australian of 5th June 1886.
Government House, Melbourne,
June 1, 1886.
I HAVE the honour to forward to your Excellency a copy of a memorandum I have received from my Prime Minister with reference to your Excellency's letter to me? of the 27th ultimo on the subject of the proposed scheme for the naval defence of Australasia.
His Excellency Rear-Admiral Tryon, C.B.,
&c.
&e.
&c.,
Naval Conimander-in-Chief, Sydney.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
HENRY B. LOCH.
MEMORANDUM for His Excellency the GOVERNOR.
Premier's Office, Melbourne, May 31, 1886. THE Premier acknowledges receipt of your Excellency's memorandum of this date enclosing a letter from his Excellency Rear-Admiral Tryon, on the subject of Mr. Gillies' memorandum of the 20th instant respecting, naval defences. received a note from the Admiral on Saturday referring to the same subject, which was The Premier replied to at once; and your Excellency will perceive by the answer (copy herewith) that no further misapprehension can exist.
It may be only necessary further to add that it was part of the understanding that the new vessels, proposed should be manned by the Imperial Government, ¿.e., from the fleet.
D. GILLIES.
or reserve.
DEAR MR. GIllies,
(Signed)
Premier.
Admiralty House, Sydney,
May 27, 1886.
I HAVE just received your communication to Sir H. Loch re Naval Defence. Is there not a misprint in saying the Admiralty are to pay for the manning. It is inconsistent with other paragraphs. Also I do not understand the basis for estimates when on a peace footing. thought when we chatted it was approved that two Archers" and one torpedo boat should be placed in reserve, thus leaving three "Archers" in commission and one torpedo boat.
+6
I am, &c. (Signed) G. TRYON.
I have written to Sir H. Loch to get the information on the first point, but I also write to you who kindly came to the meeting, for I know a pull-all-together movement is often best promoted by a private note between colleagues.
MY DEAR ADMIRAL,
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(Signed)
G. T.
May 29, 1886. Your note of 27th just received. The word "manning' was used in the sense in which it is used in sub-paragraph (ii.) of a paragraph in your memorandum to the Governor of Victoria dated 27th March 1885 (see page 4 of printed papers and correspondence Colonial Naval Defences which you lately circulated). The words are "The ships to be equipped, manned, and despatched as are all others of Her Majesty's ships." The same word is used in your letter of 24th December 1885, paragraph 7, "Cost of construction, manning, and of maintenance (see same papers and correspondence).
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I confess that it does not appear to me inconsistent with other paragraphs, as it intends to convey the idea that these vessels are to be constructed, equipped, manned, and despatched by the Imperial Government, the Colonies agreeing to maintain them from the first hour they are in a position to Le placed in commission as effectives. considered that the Admiralty estimate of "original cost," viz., 106,486/. for an
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293
"Archer," and 46,729, for a torpedo catcher, included all these items, and that the annual maintenance of 25,4567. for an "Archer," and 11,0297. for a torpedo-catcher, included everything which belonged to maintenance from the hour the vessels were placed in commission.
G
The basis of estimates for a peace footing is, as you say, that two" Archers" and one torpedo boat should be placed in reserve. No doubt that was only intended rather as an indication, or as you put it appeared in a sort of way," subject no doubt "to change." My estimate was only made in that way, but sufficiently near for all practical purposes.
I am pleased to have had your note and to answer it.
His Excellency Rear-Admiral Tryon, C.B.,
SIR,
Sydney.
Yours very truly,
(Signed)
D. GILLIES.
Enclosure in Australian No. 266 of 1886.
VICTORIA.
Government House, Melbourne, June 4, 1886.
I HAVE the honour to transmit a copy of a memorandum from my Government upon your letters of the 27th and 28th ultimo.
2. This, together with my letters of the 1st instant will, I trust, thoroughly explain the views of my Government upon the proposed scheme of naval defence, which are practically what I stated them to be in my despatch of the 1st instant, namely, that my Government are prepared "to recommend to Parliament to share with the other "Colonies the whole cost, inclusive of every charge whatsoever, for the maintenance "of the proposed naval addition in these seas, whether that be for vessels actually in "commission or for their maintenance if placed in reserve.'
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3. That the agreement should extend over a period of ten years, and that arrange- ments should be made by which notice may be given to terminate the agreement.
4. The responsibility of the Imperial Government is therefore limited, according to
the proposals of my Government, to the cost of providing these vessels.
5. The further responsibility which would attach to the Imperial Government, but not a pecuniary responsibility, would be, namely, that of manning these vessels and of providing reliefs from time to time for the same, the Colonies being responsible for the whole cost, as already stated, from the first hour of their being commissioned.
6. There are, as your Excellency is far better aware than I can be, a number of details which it will be necessary to arrange in order to enable an efficient and practical development of the scheme; but I apprehend once the general principle be approved, you will find no difficulty, speaking as regards my own Government, in arriving at a satisfactory understanding with regard to them.
His Excellency Rear-Admiral Tryon, C.B.,
&c.
&c., Naval Commander-in-Chief, Sydney.
&c.
I have, &c.
(Signed) HENRY B. Locu.
MEMORANDUM for His Excellency the GOVERNOR.
Premier's Office, Melbourne, June 4, 1886. THE Admiral's letter of the 28th May states that the proposal that the Colonies should bear the whole cost of any addition to the Imperial' squadron in these waters is not made for the first time, as it was made in the Admiral's memorandum of 27th March 1885. Just as it was to that proposal and the subsequent one (all one) that Mr. Gillies was referring.
The Admiral states that, when the proposal of 27th March 1885 was read by the then Government of Victoria, no word was said as to the unfairness of the proposal. The late Government never considered the proposal, and expressed no opinion on it, and Mr. Gillies feels certain that its members could in no way feel themselves committed to views which had not been considered simply because no unfavourable opinion was expressed about them on their being first submitted. Although the Admiral no doubt Tt 4
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