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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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9-PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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18910

SIR,

51

No. 98.

FIJI.

COLONIAL OFFICE to TREASURY.

[Answered by No. 108.]

Downing Street, June 8, 1904. I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton to request you to inform the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury that at his instance the Legislative Council of Fiji has voted the sum of £100 per annum for five years as a contribution towards the expenses of the investigation of malaria and the prevention of tropical diseases.

2. As explained more fully in another letter of this day's date,* it is proposed that this and other similar contributions should be paid into a common fund, to be administered by a Board advising the Secretary of State as.to how the monies received could at any given time be best allotted.

3. Mr. Lyttelton presumes that their Lordships have no objection to the pro- posed contribution on the part of Fiji.

I am, &c.,

20390

No. 99.

COLONIAL OFFICE to TREASURY.

[Answered by No. 118.]

C. P. LUCAS.

SIR,

Downing Street, June 8, 1904. I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton to transmit to you, to be laid before the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, the accompanying copy of a circular despatcht which was sent by Mr. Chamberlain on the 28th of May, 1903, to the tropical Colonies and Protectorates under the administration of this Office, giving an outline of what had been attempted in the direction of improving health and sanitation in those countries.

2. In the last paragraph of the despatch, Mr. Chamberlain wrote that "it is clear that the work cannot stand still, and as long as those who can speak with the authority of science are confident that by human effort the rate of mortality from malaria and other tropical diseases can be greatly reduced, and the strength and efficiency of European residents in unhealthy climates can be sensibly increased, so long, in my opinion, ought funds to be forthcoming for carrying on what has been so well begun." Mr. Chamberlain went on to state that, while one or other of the objects mentioned in his despatch might more specially commend itself to a particular Colony, he thought that, as a rule, Colonial contributions, if and when made, might with advantage continue to be paid into a common fund, to be adminis- tered by a Board advising the Secretary of State as to how the moneys received could at any given time be best allotted.

3. Mr. Lyttelton shares the views held by his predecessor as to the desirability of following up the work which has already been begun in the direction of combat- ing the diseases which are prevalent in tropical Colonies, and has done everything in his power to secure that those Colonies which are in a position to do so shall make suitable contributions towards the common fund referred to in the preceding paragraph.

4. The amounts of these contributions have, in the majority of cases, now been settled, and Mr. Lyttelton desires to lay before their Lordships the question of an Imperial contribution to the fund on behalf of the Exchequer-aided Colonies and Protectorates in the tropics.

5. Mr. Lyttelton thinks that it is scarcely necessary to point out that any measures which tend to improve health and sanitation in those Colonies and Pro- tectorates must have a most beneficial effect in reducing the cost of administration, and diminishing the chance of the occurrence of disastrous epidemics, such as those of plague in India and sleeping-sickness in Uganda.

6. Mr. Lyttelton also thinks that their Lordships will readily recognize that, as a large portion of His Majesty's forces are always serving in the tropics, a scheme which embraces the investigation of tropical diseases deserves support from

↑ [Ca. 1598].

• No. 99.

ა

Imperial funds. In this connexion he would mention that a copy of Mr. Cham- berlain's despatch was sent to the India Office last year, and that a reply was received stating that Lord George Hamilton was deeply sensible of the advantages to India of the investigations which had been promoted by this Office, and that should a fund be established for the promotion of further research into the origin and propagation of malarious diseases, and the co-operation of India be desired, his Lordship would be prepared to recommend the subject to the Indian Govern- ment for favourable consideration. Mr. Lyttelton now proposes to avail himself of this offer of assistance, and is communicating with the India Office on the subject.

7. With regard to the amount of the contribution to be made on behalf of the Exchequer-aided Colonies and Protectorates, Mr. Lyttelton would suggest that, as the most important of these possessions are situated in Africa, their Lordships should, to a certain extent, be guided by what has been contributed by the African Colonies (including the Protectorate of Southern Nigeria) which are not Exchequer- aided.

Those contributions are as follows:-

Gambia, £100 a year for five years;

Sierra Leone, £100 a year for five years; Gold Coast, £200 a year for five years;

Lagos, £150 a year for five years;

Southern Nigeria, £200 a year for five years;

and Mr. Lyttelton would suggest that a contribution of £500 a year for five years should be made from Imperial funds on behalf of the Exchequer-aided Colonies

ard Protectorates.

28181

SIR,

No. 99A.

I am, &c.,

C. P. LUCAS.

COLONIAL OFFICE to INDIA OFFICE. [Answered by Nos. 117 and 167.]

Downing Street, June 8, 1904.

I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton to ask you to call the attention of Mr. Secretary Brodrick to the India Office letter of the 29th of July, 1903,* respect- ing the circular despatch which was sent by Mr. Chamberlain on the 28th of May, 1903,† to the tropical Colonies and Protectorates under the administration of this Office, giving an outline of what had been attempted in the direction of improving health and sanitation in those countries.

2. In the last paragraph of that despatch the Colonies were invited to con- tribute to a common fund, out of which the objects mentioned in the despatch might be subsidised, and in the letter referred to above it was stated that Lord George Hamilton was deeply sensible of the advantages to India of the investigations which had been promoted by the Colonial Office, and would be glad to learn in due course the result of the reference made to the Colonies regarding the proposed establish- ment of a general fund, and the formation of a Board to advise the Secretary of State for the Colonies as to its disposal. It was added that, should such a fund be established for the promotion of further research into the origin and propagation of malarious diseases, and the co-operation of India be desired, Lord George Hamilton would be prepared to recommend the subject to the Indian Government for favourable consideration. In this connexion I should point out that the fund is to be utilized for various purposes, but that the investigation of tropical diseases, including, of course, the further investigation of malaria, will be the chief object to which it will be applied, and that India, equally with the tropical Colonies and Protectorates, will benefit by any discoveries which may be made in this direction.

3. The amounts of the contribution have now been settled in the case of most of the Crown Colonies, and it is anticipated that a sum of not less than £1,500 a year will be available from this source for five years. This is not a large sum, but only small contributions have been invited from some of the more prosperous Colonies as they are giving considerable assistance indirectly to the objects in view, by establishing local research laboratories, subsidizing the London School of Tropical Medicine, &c.

*No. 94 in Miscellaneous No. 139.

+ [Cil. 1598.]