641470-1895-Secretary-of-State-s-Despatch-re-Plague — Page 1

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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 16TH MARCH, 1895.

221

As before, it is agreed that it shall be open to any British Colony to withdraw from the present agreement, on notice to that effect being given by Her Majesty's Ambassador at Madrid to the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs within six months after the date of its signature.

His Excellency Señor Groizard.

MONSIEUR L'AMBASSADEUR,

I avail, &c.,

Enclosure 2. (Translation.) Ministerio de Estado.

(Signed) H. D. WOLFF.

Palacio, 29 de Diciembre de 1894.

I have had the honour to receive the note which your Excellency communicated to me on the 28th instant, to the effect that circumstances having impeded the continuation of the negotiations for a definitive Treaty of Commerce between Spain and the United Kingdom, the Government of Her Britannic Majesty is prepared to record, in a more formal manner, the understanding now existing for the regulation of their commercial relations.

The Government of His Catholic Majesty, who believe that this understanding will be, for various reasons, equally convenient to that of Her Britannic Majesty, consider that the agreement entered into by exchange of notes under date of the 20th and 29th of June last, between your Excellency and my predecessor, Señor Moret, is maintained until the conclusion of a definitive Treaty, unless it be terminated by one of the High Contracting Parties, who, with this object, give to the other a notice of six months.

As before, it is agreed that it shall be open to any British Colony to withdraw from the present agreement on notice to that effect being given by the Ambassador at Madrid to the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs within six months after the date of its signature.

I avail, &c.,

(Signed)

ALEJANDRO GROIZARD.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.-No. 104.

The following despatch from the Secretary of State for the Colonies is published for general information.

By Command,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 11th March, 1895.

HONGKONG. No. 21.

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, Acting Colonial Secretary.

DOWNING STREET,

29th January, 1895.

SIR, I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 262 of the 6th of December last enclosing a copy of a letter from the Acting Chief Justice, in his capacity of Chairman of the Committee appointed at the public meeting which was held for the purpose of recognising services rendered during the recent epidemic of the plague.

I have also to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 267 of the 11th of December enclosing newspaper reports of the proceedings at the meeting and at a subsequent military parade.

2. I have taken due note of the names which are more prominently brought forward in these despatches, and I have experienced great satisfaction in bringing to the notice of the Secretary of State for War the services rendered by Major-General BARKER, C.B., and the officers and men of the Garrison under his command to whom the thanks of Her Majesty's Government are due in addition to the acknowledgments and thanks of the Colonial Government and the Colonial Community.

3. I have already placed on record my strong sense of the firmness and gallantry which were shown in the face of the epidemic, and I can only again repeat my personal acknowledgments to those who on behalf of others risked their life and health at this trying time.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient, humble Servant,

Governor

SIR W. ROBINSON, K.C.M.G.,

&c.,

&C.,

&c.

RIPON.