CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908 — Page 433

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Inclosure 3 in No. 1.

Colonial Office to Post Office.

Sir,

Downing Street, July 18, 1908. I AM directed by the Earl of Crewe to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 14th instant, forwarding a Report by the Cables (Landing Rights) Committee on the improvement of telegraphic communication with Japan and the Far East.

2. Lord Crewe is of opinion that the proposed communication to the Japanese Government should not contain the statement that His Majesty's Government "would be glad to see an Agreement on these general lines entered into by the Japanese Govern- ment" as proposed in the first Resolution of the Committee (p. 17 of Report), but subject to this he concurs in their recommendations.

I am, &c.

Sir,

(Signed)

Inclosure 4 in No. 1.

India Office to Post Office.

R. L. ANTROBUS.

India Office, July 23, 1908.

I AM directed by the Secretary of State for India in Council to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 13th July, 1908, inclosing an advance copy of a Report from the Cables (Landing Rights) Committee on the question of telegraphic communica- tion with Japan and the Far East, and inquiring whether Lord Morley concurs in the recommendations of the Report.

In reply, I am to inform you that Lord Morley concurs in the proposed Agreement, but I am at the same time to request that this concurrence may not be taken to imply that the Secretary of State for India would be prepared to promote the arrangements recommended by the Committee by accepting charges against Indian telegraph revenue, which possibly might be proposed by the Administrations interested in the telegraphic traffic in the North Pacific.

ain, &c. (Signed) T. R. BUCHANAN,

I

3

Cables (Landing Rights) Committee on the question of telegraphic communication with Japan and the Far East.

Sir,

I am, &c.

(Signed)

C. I. THOMAS.

Inclosure 7 in No. 1.

Post Office to Mr. Nakaya.

General Post Office, July 31, 1908. YOU are aware that His Majesty's Government have from time to time com- municated with the Government of Japan in favour of

1. The establishment of a direct communication between Japan and the British cable system; and

2. The conclusion of an Agreement between Japan and the Cable Companies concerned for the maintenance of such reasonable rates for communication with Europe as might be arranged.

With this object in view His Majesty's Government used their interest with the Companies controlling the existing rates to Japan to obtain a reduction of those rates on a sliding scale similar to those adopted in certain cases for communication between Great Britain and her Colonies; and, as you are aware, the question was pursued at the recent International Telegraph Conference of Lisbon, with the result that the Cable Companies formulated certain proposals (applicable to correspondence between Japan and America as well as between Japau and Europe), as set forth in the accompanying Suggested Heads of Agreement between Japan and the Administrations interested in the Telegraphic Traffic in the North Pacific."*

CC

I am now able to inform you that His Majesty's Government have no objection to the proposed Heads of Agreement, except that they think that a definite date of termination should be inserted, and that the proposed new direct cable between Hong Kong and Japan should be laid independently of an increase of traffic, and in any case not later than 1912,

I am, &c.

(Signed)

H. BABINGTON SMITH.

Inclosure 8 in No. 1.

Inclosure 5 in No. 1.

Board of Trade to Post Office.

Sir,

Board of Trade, July 25, 1908. WITH reference to your letter of the 13th instant, transmitting an advance copy of a Report from the Cables (Landing Rights) Committee on the question of telegraphic communication with Japan and the Far East, I am directed by the Board of Trade to state, for the information of the Postmaster-General, that they concur in the recom- mendations of the Committee.

Sir,

I am,

(Signed)

Inclosure 6 in No. 1.

Admiralty to Post Office.

&c.

T. H. W. PELHAM.

Admiralty, July 30, 1908. WITH reference to your letter of the 18th July, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you, for the information of the Postmaster- General, that they conour in the recommendations contained in the Report from the

Sir,

Post Office to Sir J. Pender.

General Post Office, August

1908.

WITH reference to previous correspondence and discussions at the Lisbon Conference on the subject of telegraphic communication with Japan and China, I am directed by the Postmaster-General to inclose, for the confidential information of the Eastern and Eastern Extension Telegraph Companies and the other Companies and Administrations concerned, a copy of a communication in which the Japanese Delegates to the Conference have been informed that His Majesty's Government have no objection to the proposed "Heads of Agreement between Japan and the Administrations interested in the Telegraphic Traffic in the North Pacific," except that they think that a definite date of termination should be inserted, and that the proposed new direct cable between Hong Kong and Japan should be laid independently of an increase of traffic, and in any case not later than 1912.

The Secretary of State for India, in intimating that he concurs in the proposed Heads of Agreement, requests that this concurrence may not be taken to imply that he would be prepared to promote the arrangements set forth therein by accepting charges against Indian telegraph revenue which might possibly be proposed by the Administra- tions interested in the telegraphic traffic in the North Pacific.

A copy of the communication made to the Japanese Delegates has also been sent to the Great Northern Company in view of the interest which it presents for that Company.

The Great Northern Company ask that they should be allowed to participate with

* Not printed,

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