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for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that if any armed force is to be kept on shore at Heligoland, their Lordships assume that it would be provided by the War Department, and in that event they anticipate that it might be found necessary to withdraw the Coast-guard men, as their services would be required in the fleet.

I am,

&c.

ROBERT HALL.

(Signed)

No. 45.

Colonial Office to Treasury.

(Confidential.) Sir,

Downing Street, April 20, 1878.

I AM directed by Sir Michael Hicks Beach to state, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, that in February last, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State for War and the First Lord of the Admiralty, a Committee con- sisting of Admiral Sir Alexander Milne, Bart., G.C.B., General Sir Lintorn Simmons, K.C.B., K.G., and Sir Henry Barkly, G.C.M.G., was appointed to consider the temporary measures required for the defence of the Colonies in the event of war.

The attention of the Committee was directed in the first place to those stations involving most important Imperial, as well as Colonial, interests, without whose adequate protection there can be no security that Her Majesty's ships will be able to keep the sea or the protection of the commerce of Great Britain, or to prevent an enemy's fleet from annoying and harassing the Colonies.

On the 14th March the Committee recommended the immediate despatch of a supply of 6-ton guns to the Cape of Good Hope, Ceylon, Hong Kong, Mauritius, and the Straits, as coming under the above category, together with instructions for the preparation of the necessary emplacements. Sir Michael Hicks Beach understands that this recommendation is being carried out by the War Office.

I am now to transmit a copy of the complete Report of the Committee for the same Colonies.

The estimated cost of the proposed works and armaments for these Colonies, which are the least that the Committee consider necessary, is 265,4001., or, excluding Port Elizabeth and the additional proposals for Singapore, 213,400.

I am to state that Sir Michael Hicks-Beach is decidedly of opinion that the recom- mendations of the Committee should be carried out as far as practicable, and with as little delay as possible; and considering that the question is not one solely of Colonial defence in the ordinary meaning of the term, but of the protection of Imperial interests of the greatest importance, he is also of opinion that the responsibility for the first cost of these measures should be undertaken by the Imperial Government, the apportionment of the expense between this country and the Colonies being left for future determination.

Sir Michael Hicks Beach is prepared to press upon the Colonies concerned the importance of bearing their fair share of the expense that will be incurred, and I am to transmit to you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, the accompanying copy of a letter* which the Secretary of State has caused to be addressed to the War Office with regard to the cost of the particular works recommended for Singapore.

I am also to request, having regard to the great risk of delay, that you will move the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to favour Sir Michael Hicks Beach with their views at the earliest possible moment.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

W. R. MALCOLM.

No. 46.

Colonial Office to War Office.

Downing Street, April 20, 1878.

(Confidential.) Sir,

WITH reference to the letter from this Office of the 15th March,† I am directed by Sir Michael Hicks Beach to transmit to you the accompanying copy of the Report, as regards the Cape and the Eastern Colonies, of the Committee appointed to consider the temporary measures required for the defence of the Colonies in the event of war.

* No. 41.

† No. 13.

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