CO129-427 - Public Offices - 1915 — Page 255

5/-

¡

(118289/15)

233

of neutral consumption, and to confine their action

to the purely notarial act of witnessing the

signature of any person making any declaration of

ultimate destination.

These instructions were not

issued without much

consideration of the question

and until the alternative course had been found to be

and unworkable to lead to abuses of various kinds.

Sir

E.Grey regrets therefore that it will not be possible

for him to instruct His Majesty's Consular Officers

to issue certificates which include point (b) alluded

to above.

As regards point (a) it is customary for Consuls

in peace time to issue landing certificates for which

a fee of five shillings 18 charged. These certificates

are however usually made out on the strength of a

sworn declaration by the master of the vessel,

such a declaration would seem to offer inadequate.

and

security against the diversion of goods en route

by fraudulent masters at the present time.

There