CO129-269 - Governor Sir Robinson & Public Offices - 1895 [12] — Page 533

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48

APPENDIX No. 6.

STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.

Sir,

49.

APPENDIX No. 7.

Colonial Office to War Office.

Downing Street,

9th March, 1895.

528

STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.

T. No. 3485

Sir,

96 40248 478

Treasury to War Office.

Treasury Chambers,

2nd March, 1895.

I am directed by the Lords Commisioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to transmit herewith, for your information, with reference to previous cor- respondence, a copy of a letter of to-day's date, which my Lords have caused to be addressed to the Colonial Office, on the subject of the Military Contri- bution of the Straits Settlements.

I am directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, to be laid before Mr. Secretary Campbell-Bannerman, with reference to the letter from this department of the 27th ultimo, copy of a letter from the Straits Settlements Association, with enclosure, on the subject of the Military Contribution of the Straits Settlements, which have also been communicated to the Treasury.

R. H. MEADE,

No. 7a.

40248

480

No. 6a.

FRANCIS MOWATT.

The Chairman, Straits Settlements Association, to Colonial Office.

Straits Settlements Association,

My Lord Marquis,

1, Whittington Avenue, London, E.C.,

2nd March, 1895.

I have the honour to forward herewith, for your Lordship's information, a copy of a memorandum on the Military Contribution of the Straits Settlements, which is being forwarded by this Association to the various Members of both Houses of Parliament.

WM. ADAMSON,

Chairman, Straits Settlements Association,

Sir,

Treasury to Colonial Office.

Treasury Chambers,

2nd March, 1895.

The Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury have had before them Mr. Fairfield's letter of the 28th ultimo, as well as previous letters from your depart- ment of 6th November, 16th and 24th January last, and 27th ultimo, respecting the Military Contribution of the Straits Settlements.

I am to say, for the information of the Marquis of Ripon, that my Lords are prepared to give their most careful consideration to the proposal that this contribution should be fixed at a percentage of the annual revenue of the Colony. If that basis. however, were adopted, it would involve the fixing of the contribution in the currency of the Colony, instead of in sterling. Moreover, if adopted for the Straits Settlements, it could hardly be withheld from Ceylon, Hong Kong, and Mauritius.

My Lords propose, therefore, that in the first instance the subject should be referred to the Colonial Military Contribution Committee for report.

FRANCIS MOWATT,

No. 7b.

STRAITS SETTLEMENTS. Memorandum on the Military Contribution claimed by the Imperial Government.

This question has been under discussion since 1890, when Her Majesty's Govern- ment suddenly raised the annual charge to be borne by the Colony from 50,145%, at which it had stood since 1866, to 100,000. A further claim was made for a large prospective expenditure on new barracks, aud for the cost of all lands that might be required for military purposes. The Colouy had already spent over 80,0007. on fortifications, the Imperial Government providing the armament.

2. The Imperial Government also intimated that they reserved to themselves the right to call upon the Colony for the whole cost of the military establishment, whether incurred for local or for Imperial purposes, now stated to be 144,000 per

annum.

3. The Colony, through its representatives in the Council, and in public meetings, immediately protested against these demands, as being neither equitable nor reasonable and heavier than the Colony could bear. The Governor, in strongly worded despatches. represented the unfairness and impolicy of enforcing the claims.

4. Her Majesty's Government, however, insisted on their views being carried out, and payment was enforced by the votes of the official members acting under orders, and, as is well-known, against their own convictions.

5. Representations were then made to both Houses of Parliament by petitions from the inhabitants of Singapore and Penang, and, on the 25th June, 1891. Mr. Goschen, the then Chancellor of the Exchequer, from his place in the House of Commons, gave an undertaking that if the revenues of the Colony should decrease, so that they were less able to bear this contribution than they now are, the Government would feel inclined to review the situation," an undertaking confirmed by Lord Knutsford in his despatch to the Governor of 5th August, 1891.

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