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No. 25.

Admiral Sir A. Milne, Bart., G.C.B,, to Colonial Office.

(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,

Committee Room, Whitehall, April 1, 1878. WITH reference to your letter of this day forwarding copy of a secret and con- fidential telegram from the Governor of the Straits Settlements, the Colonial Defence Committee desire me to state, for the information of the Secretary of State, that they have made full inquiries as to the present state of the defences, and will be prepared with their report in a few days, of the measures which should be taken for the temporary defence of Singapore.

The Committee find that the existing defences of Singapore are practically nil. The Committee understand that in consequence one of their letters to you of the 14th ultimo,* instructions have been given by the Secretary of State for War for the despatch of ten 6-ton guns to Singapore, but no authority has yet been given for the expenditure necessary for the construction of the works requisite for mounting those guns.

The Committee request me further to state that they are strongly of opinion that some steps ought immediately to be taken to expedite these works.

Meanwhile, pending the adoption of arrangements for the better defence of the harbour with its large stock of coals, the importance of which to the trade of Great Britain with the China Seas cannot be exaggerated, the Committee are of opinion that an affirmative reply should be sent to the Governor to consult the naval and military officers as to defending the entrances to the harbours; and to carry out their suggestions as far as possible.

This is in accordance with the recommendations of my other letter of the 14th ultimo.t

The Committee would further recommend that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty should be at once informed of the amount of coal in the port, with a view to their dispatching, if possible, such additional ship or ships as their Lordships may consider requisite for the better protection of this important station.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

ALEX. MILNE, President.

No. 26.

Colonial Office to Admiral Sir A. Milne, Bart., G.C.B.

(Secret and Confidential.) Šir,

Downing Street, April 2, 1878.

I AM directed by Sir Michael Hicks Beach to transmit to you, for the information of the Colonial Defence Committee, a copy of a circular despatch which he has addressed to the Governors of Colonies embodying the suggestions contained in your letter of the 14th March,† relative to the temporary measures of defence which should be adopted by the Colonies in the event of war suddenly breaking out.

No. 27.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

R. H. MEADE.

Colonial Office to Admiral Sir A. Milne, Bart., G.C.B.

(Confidential.) Sir,

Downing Street, April 2, 1878. WITH reference to my letter, marked Secret, of the 21st ultimo,‡ I am directed by the Secretary of State to transmit, for the information of the Committee, a copy of a despatch from the Governor of the Straits Settlements, from which will be seen the actual strength of the Colonial forces in that Colony, and also a copy of a despatch from the Governor of Hong Kong,§ relative to the formation of a volunteer force in that Colony.

* No. 11.

'+ No. 12.

‡ No. 16.

§ No. 19.

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