CO129-557-6 Tenure of lands held by War Department 16-1-1936 - 25-1-1937 — Page 49

Enclosure No.2.

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4.

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6. The Colonial Government had hitherto, in practice,

from the time when the use of these leaseholds had passed to

the Military, regarded Plots A to F and Block G as in fact freeholds of the ordinary Colonial Military Lands type and for

that reason had not sought Crown Rent in respect of them. It

at once becane obvious therefore that if the contention of the

Army Council that they were not ordinary Colonial Military Lands

was well founded, the Colonial Government was within its rights

in claiming a cash settlement in respect of Crown Rent.

7.

This position was communicated to the local Military

Authorities by the Land Officer in a letter dated 29th June,

1934 (copy enclosed) and a compromise was proposed in order to

achieve the creation of a clear War Office title to the Cantonment.

To these proposals no reply has yet been received nor has the draft Memorandum been returned and I have to request that the

War Office may now be approached with a view to a settlement of this question on the lines suggested in the above letter. I would emphasise that the main object of this Government is to

place the title of the War Office to the Cantonment on a proper

ek footing and to abolish the complicity and confusion of a position

which has obtained for many years and may render future

transactions increasingly involved.

8. Copies of relevant correspondence are enclosed.

I have the honour to be,

May

Sir,

Your most obedient, humble servant,

A Caldecot

Governor, &c.

Enclosures Nos. 3–8.