CO129-465 - Public Offices & Others - 1920 — Page 419

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All further communications on this Subject should be addressed to -

The Secretary,

War Ofice,

2.

London, S.W.1.

the following number quoted.

Telephone: VadiÈSIX MONK

083/4880 (M.0.3).

AEO

27.4

9.8.27.42.

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WAR OFFICE,

C.O

19678

RE

REC 19 APR 201

LONDON, S.W.I.

17th April, 1920.

418

Sir + I am commanded by the Army Council to invite Viscount

Milner's attention to correspondence on the subject of the control of the Hong-Kong Volunteer Corparwar time, ending with Mr. Secretary Bonar Law's letter No. 13936/1915 of 1st. October, 1915.

time.

This correspondence raised the general question as to whether responsibility for the commend and training of the Hong-Kong Volunteer Corps in war time rested on the Governor or on the G.0.0. Fortress. It was recognised that the discussion was purely academic and that no serious interets were involved at the

The Army Council therefore stated their opinion that, with good will between the Governor and the G.0.C. Fortress, and some give and take, it was possible and desirable to work things as they then stood. The Council suggested that further consideration of the question might well be postponed to await a more seasonable opportunity, and in this Mr. Secretary Bonar Lay concurred. The matter was then dropped.

The Army Council are however of opinion that it would be unwise to lose sight of altogether the points raised in the correspondence, as conditions may not always be so favourable in Hong-Kong or elsewhere, as they have been during the recent

They do not consider that it is wise to rely solely on the consistent goodwill of individuals in matters which may in times of stress be of Imperial importance.

war.

It appears from the previous correspondence that the difficulty which has arisen in this case is due primarily to the fact that the Ordinance under which the Volunteer Force is raised is peculiarly constituted. The Ordinance in its present form produces a situation which is anomalous and unworkable from the point of view of the General Officer Commanding, in that it does hot make clear that it is the General Officer, subject to the control of the Governor, who is responsible for preparing the Volunteer Force for war, and who exercises command of the Force then it is called out on Military Service.

Under-Secretary of State,

Colonial Office,

S.W.1.