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193

No. 342.

Governor Sir A. P. Phayre, G.C.M.G., K.C.S.I., C.B., to the Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart.-(Received October 7.)

(No. 22. Confidential.)

Sir,

Government House, Mauritius, September 9, 1878. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch (Secret) dated the 23rd July last,* transmitting copy of Confidential letter of the 16th idem from the War Office on the defence of Mauritius.

The two 6-inch guns mentioned have not yet arrived, but when mounted, and sup- plemented by submarine mines, the means of defence of Port Louis will be materially strengthened.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

A. P. PHAYRE.

No. 343.

Sir,

War Office to Colonial Office.

War Office, October 8, 1878.

I HAVE the honour to request that I may be supplied, for the information of the Secretary of State for War, with a complete set of the papers printed by the Colonial Office, containing the recommendations of the Colonial Defence Committee, together with the correspondence relating thereto. The papers are marked Confidential, Miscellaneous, 35, 35 a, 35 B, 35 c, 35 d, &c.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

RALPH THOMPSON.

•

No. 344.

(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,

Colonial Office to War Office.

Downing Street, October 14, 1878. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated the 8th October,† requesting to be supplied, for the information of the Secretary of State for War, with a complete set of the printed Reports of the Colonial Defence Committee, and correspondence relating thereto, the numbers of which were specified in your letter.

2. In reply, I am to state that a copy of the papers will be sent to Secretary Colonel Stanley, if it is desired, for his own personal use. If it is required for official use a copy will be sent, and in that case Sir Michael Hicks Beach trusts it will not be treated as an ordinary public document, but kept strictly secret, under proper safeguards.

3. I am to point out that, owing to your letter not having been marked "Confiden- tial," it went to the Registry Department of this Office with the general public corre- spondence; and as it is very undesirable that the existence of secret papers of this kind, and their numbers, should thus be made known, I am to request that any future letters on the subject may be marked "Secret and Confidential," which will insure their being sent to one of the Under-Secretaries to be opened.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

R H. MEADE.

No. 345.

War Office to Colonial Office.

(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,

Pall Mall, October 16, 1878. I AM directed by Secretary Colonel Stanley to acknowlege the receipt of your letter of the 14th instant, and to acquaint you, in reply, for the information of Sir Michael Hicks Beach, that the complete set of printed Reports of the Colonial Defence Committee,

* No. 247.

[793]

† No. 343.

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‡ No. 344.

2 L

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