CO129-438 - Public Offices - 1916 — Page 52

G

D.O. No. 2081 Political.

REC

37941

REGE | AUG 16

Dear Seton,

47

HOLE DEPARTLENT.

Simla, the 4th July 1916.

I am desired to invite a reference to your

demi-official letter No. J. & P. (S.) 571/16, dated the

16th May 1916, and to say that the Government of India

are prepared to accept the charges incurred by the Hongkong

Government in the payments of rewards for information

leading to the seizures of arms and ammunition destined for

India from China.

2. The Government of India have of course no

information as to what amount of expenditure will be

involved, but the rate mentioned in paragraph 3 of the

letter dated the 14th December 1915, from the Governor of

Hongkong to the Commander-in-Chief, China Station, does

not seem excessive, though the Governor reserves discretion to pay larger rewards if necessary.

3. It is noticed also that in paragraph 5 of the

same letter the Governor speaks of arms and ammunition

"intended for India or other British possessions". When

seizure of arms is made it may not always be possible

to tell exactly what the intended destination is, but the

Hongkong authorities might be asked to satisfy themselves,

when debiting the cost of rewards to this country, that

there was a reasonable probability that the arms seized

were intended for India. I am to add that the Government

of India would be glad to be consulted if any special case should arise, involving the payment of very large sums in

reards.

Yours sincerely,

(sd.) H. WHEELER.

1.C. Seton Esq., C.B.,

Secretary, Judicial & Public Dept.,

India Office.