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PUBLE RECORD OFFICE

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C.O. 885

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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APPENDIX VI.

Memorandum by Mr. St. John Brodrick.

THE Secretary of State for War has discussed personally with 'the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, Premier of New Zealand, the Right Hon. Sir A. Hime, Premier of Natal, and the Hon. T. E. Fuller, Agent-General for Cape Colony, the question of those Colonies furnishing from their Colonial Forces properly trained units, which would be available for Imperial service outside their Colonies in the event of a serious war.

It was agreed that, to ensure their fitness for immediate field service on the outbreak of war, such units should be so trained in peace time as not to be at a disadvantage if employed against the troops of European Powers, and that their equipment should be complete and efficient.

The Secretary of State for War pointed out that the men selected for Imperial service would not be called out for such service until the Reserves of the Regular Army at home were called out, that is, in case of imminent national danger or great If the Colonies concerned insisted on the consent of their respective emergency. Governments to the employment of these units outside the Colonies to which they belonged, any extra pay which might be granted to the men on account of their liability to extra-Colonial service, and the higher efficiency demanded of them, would fairly be chargeable to Colonial revenues. If, on the other hand, the units were placed at the disposal of His Majesty's Government, subject to the conditions of specified above, it would seem not unreasonable that extra pay, equal to the pay Reservists of the Regular Army, should be provided out of Imperial funds. When employed extra-Colonially for Imperial purposes, all charges would devolve on His Majesty's Government, the rate of pay suggested being that approved for the Imperial Yeomanry during the late war.

Mr. Seddon was prepared to consider the provision by New Zealand of a force of 4,500 men on the above lines, on the condition that they should be available only for service in South Africa, Canada, or China. As regards India, he considered that they should not be employed in that country, but it was urged by the Secretary of State that in the event of a campaign on or beyond the north-west frontier of India their employment on sotive service in that direction should not be objected to, provided that they were not utilised for garrison duty in the plains.

It was recognised that under existing conditions_in South Africa, more especially baving regard to the large native population, the Imperial contingents which Cape Colony and Natal could supply would not be large, but if a beginning were made it was hoped that they might gradually be strengthened. Any risk of internal disturb- asos, owing to the withdrawal of the contingents, would be borne in mind by His Majesty's Governmeut, on whom, as well as on local Governments, lies the responsi- bility of maintaining the internal tranquility and external security of all parts of the King's dominions.

It was considered that, having regard to the reputation won by Colonial contingents in South Afrion, it would be better not to affiliate the Colonial units organised for Imperial service to regiments of the Regular Army; but Mr. Seddon expressed a strong desire that British regular troops might occasionally be quartered in New Zealand.“

It was understood that the units to be furnished by Cape Colony, Natal, and New Zealand would consist mainly of mounted men, that they would be periodically inspected by a General or other Officer of the Regular Forces, and that the duration and nature of their annual training should be enquired into and settled by the Colonial Governments in consultation with His Majesty's Government. The officers and men who have recently been employed on active service in South Africa, would, however, be held to be ressonably efficient without undergoing any special preliminary training.

ST. JOHN BRODRICK.

War Ofion, 5 August 1902.

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In reference to above Memorandum I have received enclosed from Mr. Seddon, which I think it best to give in extenso.

The only difference between his proposal and that contained in my Memorandum appears to be on the following points:-

(1.) Equipment should be provided by Imperial Government, the Colonies paying

the interest.

(2.) Liability of the force to serve on the N.W. Frontier of India.

(3.) Reserve Pay.-Mr. Seddon proposes 67. a year. My suggestion was 91., similar

to the Home Reserve Pay.

The difference would, perhaps, be reasonable-in view of the limit in liability for service.

It seems clear that the principle being agreed to, there will not be much difficulty in working out the details.

ST. JOHN BRODRICK.

August 3.

MEMORANDUM FOR THE RIGHT HON. THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR, WAR OFFICE, S.W.

Hotel Cecil, Strand, W.C.,

6th August 1902.

The Prime Minister of New Zealand presents his compliments to the Secretary of State for War, and begs to acknowledge the receipt of his Memoradum of even date with reference to his conference with the Premier of Natal, the Agent-General for Cape Colony, and himself, on the question of those Colonies furnishing from their Colonial Forces properly trained units, which would be available for Imperial service outside their Colonies in the event of a serious war.

The Premier begs to observe that the Memorandum in question does not altogether fully put the position, and as the paragraph now stands an incorrect inference might be drawn. His view of the matter is consistent with what was referred to in his statement of the defences of the Colony, laid before the New Zealand Parliament, and approved of by secret committee, whose report was adopted by Parliament, in which it was laid down, that the Imperial Reserve Force should be open to all officers and men belonging to the ordinary Volunteer Corps, to become efficient in both services, and to enlist for, say, three years in the Reserve Forces. The officers and inen so enlisting should receive a fixed annual sum on being certificated as efficient, and be required to go into camp at stated periods for, say, four weeks in each year, the drills and camping as a volunteer to count as part of the said four weeks. When in camp they should be paid a fixed allowance; the Imperial Government to equip or find the money for equipment, upon which the Colony should pay the interest. The Reserve Forces to be open for service within the territorial limits, to be agreed upon between the Imperial and Colonial Governments, and the annual capitation allowance fixed upon, say 6l., to be provided by the Imperial Government. The pay of the officers and men outside the Colony, within the limits stipulated, not to be less than was paid to officers and men recently serving in South Africa.

The question at issue is that if officers and men are to go anywhere outside the Colony, then the Imperial Government should pay a sum equal to the pay of the reservists of the Regular Army. On the other hand, if they are to be only allowed to go with the consent of their respective Governments then the capitation grant should be chargeable to Colonial revenues.

What the Premier of New Zealand was prepared to consider, was that the territorial limits within which the officers were to serve "could be fixed at once, and he mentioned South Africa, Canada, China, and the islands of the Western Pacific, but excluding India. With these limits fixed beforehand, the capital required for equipment and the extra pay to be found by the Imperial Government could be determined. This is fair, because there is no special reason why the Colony should have an Imperial Reserva for service outside the Colony; and the lines upon which an Imperial Heserve might be formed, having been approved by the New Zealand Government, to depart there- from would militate against, and probably prevent any Imperial Reserve being formed

E 91528.

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