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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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Reference :-

C.O. 885

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

5PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

No. 73.

PRECEDENCE OF COLONIAL NAVAL AND MILITARY FORCES,

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT.

I DESIRE to draw your attention to a subject of importance with reference to Colonial · naval and military forces, though I know it cannot now be discussed.

Several-questions arise with regard to the position of the Colonial land forces, both in In the event of the forces of two or relation to each other and to the British army. more Colonies being brought together either for active service or for the purpose of manœuvres, it would be necessary to establish an order of precedence which, if not clearly laid down and understood in advance, would evidently lead to friction and confusion of authority. A rule of precedence is, therefore, necessary, and "the only authority in the Empire who can give such precedence is the Queen." No rule of precedence could well be applied except in accordance with the precedence in seniority of the Colonies. Thus the regular forces of any Colony might receive precedence according to the seniority of the Colony among forces of the same arm of other Colonies. The regular forces of any Colony should receive precedence over all the militia and volunteer forces of the same or of all other Colonies. Similarly, militia, or militia- volunteer forces, would take precedence by the seniority of their Colony over similar forces of other Colonies; and militia would take precedence of all volunteer forces of all other Colonies.

The question of the precedence of officers is somewhat more difficult, and the only solution appears to be that all commissions should be granted by the Queen, for which purpose it would apparently be necessary only that the Colonial Governments should It is stated that the Queen has pass Acts authorising Her Majesty to grant them. power to regulate the rank of Colonial officers, under her prerogative. This rank should be substantive as regards other Colonial forces, but honorary as regards the regular army. It would at any time be possible for Her Majesty, if so advised, to confer substantive rank on the officers of Colonial forces acting with the regular army.

As regards the question of relative precedence of the Imperial forces and reserves and Colonial forces, it seems desirable that the latter should rank after corresponding forces of the former on all occasions when they are employed together. Such occasions would necessarily be rare, and it is almost inconceivable that Imperial volunteers should ever act with Colonial volunteers.

Questions of precedence of Colonial forces among each other might well be considered by an inter-Colonial body, who should be asked to recommend rules for Her Majesty's approval.

As soon as these questions have been settled, it appears most desirable that the names in the of all the officers of Colonial forces of all kinds should be shown once a

year Army List. They would be grouped under the head of "Colonial Forces," and shown n the order of Colonial precedence.

A further question arises as to the terms of obligation of service of Colonial forces. It is extremely important that these terms should be assimilated.

The following are proposed :—

1. To serve at all times in the defence of their Colony.

2. With the assent of their Colonial Government, and in the event of that Government providing the means, to aid Her Majesty in any wars in which she may be engaged.

3. In such a case the command must be vested in the commanding officer of Her Majesty's troops.

4. When serving within the Colony, to be subject to Colonial law. When serving with Her Majesty's troops beyond the Colony, to be subject to the Army Act and the Queen's Regulations.

Similarly, the status and precedence of the naval forces of the Colonies with respect to each other and to the Imperial navy should be defined and laid down, and the names of Colonial naval officers shown annually in the Navy List.

May 1887.

(Signed) H. T. HOLLAND.

No. 74.

EMPLOYMENT OF IMPERIAL OFFICERS IN THE COLONIES.-

CORRESPONDENCE.

ADMIRALTY to COLONIAL OFFICE.

SIR,

Admiralty, December 3, 1886. WITH reference to previous correspondence relative to the general question of the employment of naval and military officers in naval or military appointments under Colonies which receive no contribution from Imperial funds, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit herewith, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, copy of a letter which they have received on the subject from the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury dated 20th ultimo.

In view of the concessions contained in this Treasury letter, no further question appears to exist, and my Lords will accordingly take steps to procure the necessary Order in Council with regard to naval and marine officers.

I am to add that my Lords propose departmentally to fix a limit on these Colonial appointments of three years from date of taking up appointment.

The Under Secretary of State,

Colonial Office.

SIR,

i am, &c.,

(Signed) EVAN MACGREGOR.

Enclosure in No. 74.

Treasury Chambers, November 20, 1886. I AM directed by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to transmit herewith, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, a copy of a letter which my Lords have caused to be addressed to the War Office on the subject of the conditions of employment of military officers by the Colonial Governments.

I am to state that my Lords consent to the application of like rules to naval officers.

I have, &c., The Secretary, Admiralty.

(Signed) R. E. WELBY.

SIR,

Treasury Chambers, November 19, 1886. THE Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury have had before them Mr. Knox's letter of the 11th ultimo, respecting the employment of naval and military officers by Colonial Governments, and direct nie to state that, on the recommendation of Mr. Secretary Smith, they agree to the following rules, which, it will be observed, involve a further and very important concession to the Colonies at the cost of the British taxpayer.

(1.) If the officer be on the active list of the army, he will draw no pay from Imperial funds during his employment by the Colonial Government, but, if the Secretary of State see fit, his service under that Government may count towards promotion and retirement, as though it were service in the Imperial army, and the retired pay earned by his Colonial service, so long as he remains on the active list, will be chargeable upon Imperial funds.

(2.) If the officer retire from the army whilst serving under the Colonial Govern- ment, he may at once draw so much of his retired pay as was earned by army service prior to his entering the Colonial service; and on retiring from the Colonial service he may also draw the retired pay earned by so much of his Colonial service as preceded bis retirement from the army.

Article 991 of the Pay Warrant must be amended accordingly.

(3.) If the officer be on the retired list when he accepts Colonial employment, his retired pay need not be suspended in whole or part by reason of such employment unless the Secretary of State deems fit, even though the retired pay may have been earned by mixed army and civil service.

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