CO129-424 - Governor Sir May - 1915 [9-10] — Page 239

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(UFO)

(To accompany Enclosure 1.)

0103/4680. (F.1.)

No. 4677/27 "A".

234

I formatel ****

द

Sir,

War Office,

London, S.W.

29th. May, 1915.

I am commanded by the Army Council to acquaint you that they have been in communication with the Colonial Office on

the general question of the incidence of cost of maintenance of

prisoners of war interned in the Colonies, and to state that it

has been decided that the cost of internment and maintenance of

enemy subjects arrested in the Oversea Dominions and Colonies under the authority of the local Government must be regarded as a legitimate charge upon local revenues.

In the case, Lowever, of enemy subjects who are taken into Colonial ports by His Majesty's snips or are removed by the local authorities, in pursunce of the policy of his kajesty's Government, from British merchant slips calling at these ports, sny Colonial Governments that are unable to provide for the ex-

-pense from local revenues, need not be held liable for the con-

-trol and maintenance of these persons. Offers to bear these 1tters charges should not, of course, be lande where Colonial

Governments do not ask for re-imbursement.

The foregoing instructions leave out of considera- -tion the case of prisoners taken in the course of military operation of removed from occupied territory under military authority. If necessery a further communication will be unde to

you in regard to the expenses incurred on account of such prison-

-ers.

I am etc.,

(Sd.) B. B. Cubitt.

The General Officer Commanding

the Troops,

China.