Sessional_Paper_1884-1885 — Page 52

48

t

"I arrived at Hongkong on March 30th, 1883; and six weeks afterwards, after careful study of the subject, I opened the question of the Defences of this Colony by an elaborate. despatch to the Secretary of State (Lord DERBY), dated May 12th, 1883. In that Despatch, after entering fully into details, I concluded as follows:

"

I submit that your Lordship should move the War Office to prepare a full and final plan for the defences of Hongkong, and that such plan should be transmitted by Her Majesty's Government to both the Governor and the General Commanding the troops, with instructions to use all the authority and influence of their respective offices in assisting in carrying it into execution. The Major-General Commanding has read this despatch, and authorises me to state that he cordially agrees with my views in every respect. He fully concurs as to the urgent necessity of the War Office finally deciding on a complete plan of defence, and of that plan being carried into execution without unavoidable delay.

71

I may here observe that in the phrase "full and final plan, I referred to those various and conflicting schemes to which my honourable friend alluded just now.

I knew, of course, that various Engineer Officers had proposed various plans, but none had been adopted, and the great point was that a full and final plan should be decided upon.

"After several detailed statements and arguments, I proceeded as follows:-

It has been frequently shown that Hongkong commands our Trade Routes in the Far East; that shipping to the amount of above five millions of tons (a larger tonnage than that which entered the port of London 40 years ago) yearly enters this port; and that it is of paramount importance not to suffer any nation, or any possible confederacy of nations, to destroy or lessen the prestige and influence of Great Britain with China and Japan, those rich and vast countries which have in all human probability a great future before them in the history of the world.

"Such, Honourable gentlemen, was the language in which I opened the question of our defences just six weeks after my first arrival here. And I have followed up this opening by a long series of official despatches and (what has proved still more effective), of private letters to my personal friends among English statesmen and among the chief Military Authorities at the War Office. I cannot, of course, publish correspondence much of which is of a confidential character; but I am ready to show it to any member of this Council. I know that you, Honourable gentlemen, like myself, deprecate any irresponsible chatter' (as one of you has truly called it), which could have no other result but to point out any weak point in the armour of our country to our possible enemies-to all who fear or who envy the greatness of England. A perusal of my correspondence on this subject will show that what has been done, and is doing, for the defences of this Colony, is due mainly to my constant and persistent representations, aided, of course, by General Sargent, and by the other naval and military authorities. I am in cordial co-operation with Admiral Sir W. DoWELL, and with General CAMERON, who possess the entire confidence of the Admiralty and of the War Office; and this community can place full reliance on their prudence and energy.

Sir W. DOWELL is now temporarily absent in the execution of measures which, if they could be divulg- ed, would be regarded by all of you as the best calculated alike for the protection of our trade and of English interests generally in this quarter of the globe, and also for the protection of Hongkong. The Admiral has authorised me to state, moreover, that there will remain perma- nently in this barbour the formidable ironclad Wivern-now fully manned and equipped-and five other men-of-war, together with four torpedo boats, and a large provision of submarine mines. I may add that I have recently received a letter from the highest official military authority in England, in which he writes that with the 'defensive power' of various kinds already provided, or which will shortly be provided for this harbour, you should laugh to scorn the possible attacks of the ships of all other nations now in the China seas.'

•

"I am sorry to be obliged to detain you so long; but I must now tell you precisely what has already been done with regard to the two subjects referred to in the Resolution proposed by my Honourable friend.

€

"(1.) The Government entirely agree that there ought to be direct Telegraphic Commu- nication between Hongkong and Singapore.' I have already communicated with the Imperial Government on this subject, both by telegraph and by despatch. I also brought it before the Executive Council, which, after full consideration, passed the following Minute:-

The Council advise that, in the present depressed state of the Colonial Revenue, it is impossible that this Colony should give any substantial contribution towards a direct telegraphic cable to Singapore, which is desirable for Imperial rather than for Colonial, for naval and military rather than for commercial interests.

"I have communicated on this point also with the Acting Governor of the Straits Settlements, who informs me that his Government, like that of Hongkong, is unable to give any substantial aid to the proposed scheme.

I was informed by the Manager of the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company that a direct Telegraph cable to Singapore would cost about £400,000, that is, about twice the total annual revenue of this Colony; but I have been informed since that that is probably an extravagant estimate. It appears that the Company would require a guarantee of £20,000 yearly for twenty years. It is possible that the Imperial Government might be inclined to give a guarantee, or to aid in some other way.