CO129-407 - Public Offices & Others - 1913 — Page 204

ground

is characteristic but not convincing.

Probally the C. A. Ct. pind people to inspect

the gras if the W.d.com't

: In the first place and the tot for whether part I in the tallen

1

neplying

that the contract has been placed rade for an early reply.

JR 22/8/13.

Rat

2218/13 Alone Mr.23.1.13

Any further communication on this subject should be addressed to-

The Secretary.

War Office.

C

20185

RECT

293

London, S. W.,

21 AUG 13

War Office,

and the following number quoted.

57/20/6277. (A.3.)

Sir,

Ca

London, S.W.

R 20 August,

1913.

303"

With reference to your letter 23rd July 1913, No.24135/1913, regarding the ordering of four (4) Vickers machine guns required for the Government of Hong Kong, I am commanded by the Army Council to inform you that this gun which has only recently been adopted can be manufactured by one Firm only and their resources are fully taxed in meeting Imperial requirements. As a matter of fact the Firm is considerably

in arrear with these orders and even had the Guns been ordered soon after the receipt of the Demand they could not probably have been delivered earlier than the date promised by the Firm, viz. December next, unless, of course, they had been supplied at the expense of Imperial orders, a course which the Army Council are not prepared to sanction.

I am to add that the time which has elapsed since the order was received has been taken up in settling the correct equipment of parts and in negotiating with the makers for supply at a reasonable price, the earlier quotations being quite excessive. The result has been a gain both in military efficiency and financially, and this could not have been attained had the Crown Agents been empowered to purchase

direct.

Moreover on general grounds the Army Council must demur to the purchase of service patterns of military material by individual Bominions on grounds which have already been

The Under Secretary of State,

Colonial Office,

London,

8. W.

fully