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(Secret and Confidential.)

Sir,

65

No. 138.

Colonial Office to Admiralty.

Downing Street, May 31, 1878. I AM directed by Sir Michael Hicks Beach to state that, understanding that twenty- five out of fifty Whitehead torpedoes ordered by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty for the Colonies were on their way to England, he inquired of the Colonial Defence Committee to what Colonies they would recommend that they should be sent, and I am now to inclose a copy of their reply.*

2. I am to request that you will move the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to give the necessary directions for the dispatch of these instruments to the four stations indicated, viz., Esquimalt, Capetown, Hong Kong and Singapore; but as their custody and manipulation will be attended with considerable difficulty and risk, and as their Lordships will doubtless always have officers and men at those stations, I am to suggest for their consideration that the Admiralty should undertake their entire control and management, sending, if necessary, a special staff of officers and men for the purpose.

3. I am to remind their Lordships that not only do these weapons require the constant attention of skilled persons to maintain them in a tropical climate in proper working order, but if their custody is entrusted to the respective Colonial Governments, it may be difficult to secure any sufficient guarantee that they will be protected from those who may desire access to them for improper purposes.

4. I am to request that Sir Michael Hicks Beach may be furnished with a statement of the probable whole expense, with a view to the consideration of the proportion to be refunded by the Colonies, a matter which will be separately dealt with. In the meantime I am to request that their Lordships will make whatever provision may be immediately necessary on Naval Votes, in accordance with the wishes of the Board of Treasury, as expressed in their letters of the 22nd instant,† copies of which are inclosed in the letter from this Department of this day's date.

5. With regard to the remaining twenty-five torpedoes which the Colonial Defence Committee recommend should be offered to the Australasian Colonies, I am to state that, looking to the expense and to the difficulty of making and maintaining the necessary arrangements for their custody and manipulation, Sir Michael Hicks Beach does not anticipate that these Colonies would be able to afford the necessary establishments, and as the Admiralty will doubtless be able to utilize them in case of need, I am to suggest that they should be retained by that Department for naval use.

I am, &c. (Signed)

R. H. MEADE.

No. 139.

Colonial Office to Admiralty.

(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,

Downing Street, May 31, 1878. WITH reference to the letter from this Office of the 8th May, transmitting a copy a telegram from the Governor-General of Canada dated the 4th May,§ submitting that a fleet of fast armed cruizers would be necessary for the protection of the Atlantic shipping if war should be declared, I am directed by Sir Michael Hicks Beach to transmit to you the accompanying copy of the Minute of the Canadian Council, upon which that telegram was founded, together with copy of a despatch from the Governor-General, inclosing a letter from Lieutenant-General Sir Selby Smyth, recommending that the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Bay of Fundy should be occupied by a squadron of swift and lightly- armed steamers for the purpose of coping with any similar vessels which may be purchased by the enemy from various American ports.

I am to request that you will draw the particular attention of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to Sir Selby Smyth's letter, and that Sir M. Hicks Beach may be informed whether their Lordships have made any provision of the kind recommended against the operations of hostile cruizers of this description, or what steps they propose to take for the protection of the Atlantic trade in the event of war.

I am, &c. (Signed)

R. H. MEADE.

* No. 116.

+ Nos. 125 and 126.

‡ No. 140.

§ No. 72.

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