CO129-134 - Public Offices - 1868 — Page 485

Sir,

Mr. Hammond to the Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office,

Foreign Office, October 23, 1868.

I AM directed by Lord Stanley to transmit to you, to be laid before the Secretary of State for the Colonies, a copy of a despatch from Mr. Bonar, at Vienna, reporting that the Naval Expedition to " the Austrian Government, has started from Trieste.

Eastern Asia," projected by

I am, &c.

(Signed)

E. HAMMOND.

The

Under Secretary of State,

&c.,

&c.,

&c., Colonial Office.

My Lord,

Mr. Bonar to Lord Stanley.

Vienna, October 20, 1868. THE Naval Expedition "to Eastern Asia," so long contemplated by the Austrian Government, has at length weighed anchor, and the ships composing it left the port of Trieste on the 18th instant. Questions raised by Hungary relative to the flag have been one of the causes of its delay.

is a

The object of the expedition, as your Lordship is already aware, politico commercial one, for the purpose of establishing relations with various States in those parts, inquiring into the best means of extending the commerce of Austria with their ports, instituting Consulates and concluding Treaties of Commerce where advisable.

The mission divided into three sections :----

1. The scientific and commercial, at whose head is placed Dr. Scherzer, of the Department of Commerce at Vienna, a gentleman of very high repute, and who already accompanied the Austrian frigate "Novara voyage round the world some years back.

in its scientific

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2. The diplomatic, under the direction of Baron Herbert. 3. A section, rejoicing in a profound German denomination, "Evidenz- haltung," not only incapable of being translated, but also wholly unintelligible, which will be specially charged with the drawing up of Treaties, and the various formalities attaching to the establishment of the Consulates which may be determined upon.

Representatives also of the agricultural interests and of all the principal branches of industry in Austria, appointed by the various Chambers of Commerce, five for Austria, and three for Hungary, will form part of the expedition as special agents and reporters for those interests.

The expedition is composed of two steam vessels, the frigate "Donan," and the corvette "Friedrich," under the chief command of the Vice-Admiral Peetz, who is at the same time invested with the title and functions of Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.

The route to be taken will be vid the principal stations of Gibraltar, the Cape of Good Hope, Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Shanghai (a com- mercial treaty with China being especially in view), thence to Japan, and to return by San Francisco and Central America, and the whole coast of South America.

The duration of the expedition, it is expected, will be two years. The expenses of the first year are estimated at present at sixty thousand pounds sterling.

Although the mission has principally a commercial character, it is charged also to pursue scientific objects as much as possible.

I have the honour to enclose herewith a copy of the instructions furnished to each of the "technical" members of the expedition, for which I am indebted to the obligingness of Dr. Scherzer. The branches of industry especially represented are Metallurgy, Textile Fabrics, Hardwares, Raw Products, and Agricultural interests.

I have, &c.

A. G. BONAR.

(Signed)

Lord Stanley,

&c.,

&C.,

&c.

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