Sir,
51
No. 95.
War Office to Colonial Office.
War Office, November 12, 1880. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for War to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 23rd ultimo* relative to a proposed communication to the Colonies possessing Parliamentary Governments on the subject of the desirability of securing uniformity of armaments in the Imperial and Colonial services.
In reply, 1 am to acquaint you, for the information of Lord Kimberley, that Mr. Childers fully concurs in such communication being made, and he would especially observe upon the importance of carrying out the suggestion of the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, viz., that before proceeding with orders for guns and other warlike equipments which are liable to change and improvement, the Colonial Government should communicate with the Home Government, so that this Department may have the opportunity of assisting with information and advice as to the latest approved patterns.
In accordance with the request contained in your letter, I am to forward herewith six copies of the latest priced vocabulary of stores used in Her Majesty's service, also six sets of the periodical lists of changes in patterns (issued since January 1878), and of the Treatises on ordnance, carriages, and ammunition respectively, which contain valuable information relating to these several branches of warlike equipment.
Additional copies can be furnished if required, and arrangements could be made for the supply of future issues and editions as published, either direct to the Colonies or through the Colonial Office, as Lord Kimberley may desire.
No. 96.
I am, &c. (Signed) H. G. DEEDES.
Sir,
55
No. 98.
Circular to all Colonies having Parliamentary Government.
Downing Street, December 3, 1880. I HAVE the honour to transmit to you a copy of a letter* from the Royal Com- mission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad with regard to the great importance of securing uniformity of armaments in the Imperial and Colonial services. I also transmit to you a copy of the further correspondence† on this subject, together with one copy of each of the publications specified in the War Office letter of the 12th November, which have been supplied by that Department for the use of your Government, and which contain much valuable information relating to the several branches of warlike equipment.
The inclosed correspondence will, I think, sufficiently show the great advantage to both the Imperial and Colonial services of adopting measures to ensure all possible uniformity in the armaments of both services, and I shall be glad to be favoured with the views of your Ministers on this very important question.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
KIMBERLEY.
No. 99.
Circular to Colonies not having Parliamentary Government.
Downing Street, December 3, 1880.
I HAVE the honour to transmit to you, for your information and guidance, a copy of a Circular despatch§ which I have addressed to the Governors of Colonies having Parliamentary Government with regard to the great importance of securing uniformity of armaments in the Imperial and Colonial services.
Sir,
?
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference -
..........C.O. 8855
BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE
Sir,
War Office to Colonial Office.
War Office, November 24, 1880. I HAVE laid before the Secretary of State for War your letter of the 29th ultimo,† with its inclosures, on the subject of the proposed construction of a line of telegraph to Mauritius.
In reply, I am to acquaint you, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that 'Mr. Childers concurs in the proposal of Lord Kimberley to inform the Governor of Mauritius of the decision arrived at on the subject, by communicating to him the substance of the first paragraph of the letter from the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, dated October 15, 1880,‡ inclosed in letter under reply.
your
I am at the same time to express Mr. Childers' opinion that the extension of tele- graphic communication to Mauritius would be of great importance in the event of war with a maritime Power.
Sir,
I have, &c. (Signed)
RALPH THOMPSON.
No. 97.
Colonial Office to the Secretary to the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad.
Downing Street, November 30, 1880.
I AM directed by the Earl of Kimberley to transmit to you, for the information of the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, a copy of a correspondence§ which has taken place between the War Office and this Department with reference to the question of the command of colonial troops when assisted by Imperial troops.
I am, &c.
ROBERT G. W. HERBERT.
(Signed)
• No. 82.
+ No. 88.
‡ No. 80.
$ No. 83 and 92.
Sir,
I have, &c. (Signed)
KIMBERLEY.
No. 100.
War Office to Colonial Office.
War Office, December 9, 1880. REFERRING to your letter of the 6th ultimo, stating that the Earl of Kimberley had telegraphed to the Governor of the Straits Settlements to the effect that it would be better for him not to preside over the Local Committee appointed to report upon the defences of Singapore, but to give the Committee the benefit of his views on the question, I am directed to acquaint you that Mr. Secretary Childers acquiesces in this arrangement.
I have, &c. (Signed) JOHN ADYE, Lieutenant-General.
Sir,
No. 101.
Treasury to Colonial Office.
Treasury Chambers, December 10, 1880.
I AM directed by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to request that you will move the Secretary of State to cause an estimate to be furnished to them, at
as early a date as possible, of the probable expenditure in 1881-82 in respect of the Colonial Defences Commission.
I am also to request that the expenditure of the Commission may be shown under the following sub-heads, or such of them as may be necessary, viz. :—
Salaries.
Travelling Expenses.
Short-hand Writing.
Incidental Expenses.
* Xo. 79.
† Nos. 40 and 44.
‡ No. 95.
§ No. 98.
1 No. 94.
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