CO129-508-12 The fouling of two Government sub-marine cables by the U.S.S. Jason 21-11-1927 - 13-2-1928 — Page 8

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The Chief Engineer,

Crown Agents for the Colonies.

work in these joints may necessitate sooner or later the

repairing, or even the renewal of any one, or all of the

joints. But any estimate of the expense (if any) to which

the Hong Kong Government may be put in this connection in

the future obviously would be pure guess work. It is on

this ground apparently that the U.S. Navy Department bases

its objection to the claim. That Department is entitled to

assume that the repairs have been properly carried out, and

that the claim covers everything necessary for putting the

cable in the same condition as before the accident. In the

circumstances we are inclined to the opinion that the Navy

Department's attitude should be accepted.

7. If, however, would have been a graceful act on

the part of the Navy Department to have regarded the claim

as an allowance for the contingency of the joints giving

trouble in the future but as it has not done so the Government

may decide to withdraw the claim and so terim te the

controversy.

For the Government to pursue the matter on

the grounds of the probability of the joints giving trouble in

the future it would be necessary for it to have a very good

case supported by such facts as may be available as for

instance the quality of the labour being inferior, if this

should be the case, or the like,

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It would have been advantageous we think if the

submission of the claim for repairs could have been d eferred

until a suitable length of cable for effecting the repairs

with two joints or even with one joint could have be en

obtained from England if necessary. The cost would have

been very much higher but a better job would have been made

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