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APPENDIX I.

Committee of Imperial Defence,

(Secret.) (B-27 (39).) Sir,

2, Whitehall Gardens, London, April 2, 1912. I HAVE the honour to inform you that at a Meeting of the Home Ports Defence Committee held on the 27th March, a proposal was put forward that the export of cargoes of stone, cement, bricks, and similar cargo, should be entirely prohibited by Order in Council in time of war at certain ports, the approaches to which are so narrow that vessels loaded with such cargo might be sunk in the fairway, and cause an obstruction, which it would be difficult to remove, thus interfering for a long period with the trade of the port.

2. The ports at which it was proposed this prohibition should apply are divided into two categories, viz. :—

(1.) Ports which it is important to keep open on naval or military grounds, vis.: Cardiff, Penarth, Barrow, Barry and Newhaven (the last as an important port of embarkation); and

(2.) Certain commercial ports, viz.: Weymouth, Avonmouth, Swansea, Dublin, Belfast, Londonderry, the Clyde, Aberdeen, Leith, Hartlepool, and Blyth.

3. Before the Home Ports Defence Committee make any recommendations on the subject however, the Chairman of the Home Ports Defence Committee would be glad to learn whether there is any objection from the point of view of the Board of Trade. No Board of Trade Representative attended the Meeting of the Home Ports Defence Committee, since it was not anticipated that subjects would arise affecting that Department.

4. A copy of semi-official correspondence on the subject with Captain G. A. Ballard, the Director of Operations Division, Admiralty War Staff, is attached.

I have, &c.

M. P. A. HANKEY, Secretary,

Home Ports Defence Committee.

The Secretary, Board of Trade, Whitehall Gardens, S.W.

(Signed)

APPENDIX II.

(Secret.)

Sir,

Board of Trade, June 5, 1912. WITH reference to your letter of the 2nd April (No. B-27(39)), relative to the proposal that the export of stone, cement, and brick should be prohibited at certain ports in time of war, I am directed by the Board of Trade to forward to you herewith copy of certain tabular statements" which they have received from the Board of Customs and Excise showing the imports, exports, and re-exports of the articles in question at the ports specified in your letter.

The Board are at present in communication with the Board of Customs with view to obtaining some information as to the coastwise shipments, which must clearly be taken into account in this connection; and they propose to defer the expression of any opinion upon the general question raised in your letter until after the receipt of a further communication from that Department.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

The Secretary, Committee of Imperial Defence,

H. LLEWELLYN SMITH.

2, Whitehall Gardens, 8.W.

APPENDIX III.

(Secret.) Sir,

Board of Trade, July 26, 1912.

I AM directed by the Board of Trade to advert to your letter of the 2nd April (No. B-27 (13)), and to their reply of the 6th June, respecting a proposal that the

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