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mittee, that a despatch has been received from the Marquis of Lorne, inclosing a copy of a letter from the Department of the Minister of Militia and Defence, forwarding copies of plans of works recently constructed to protect the harbour of Esquimalt; but as the Secre tary of State for War is now considering the question of the defence of those places, it has been considered advisable to forward the plans direct to the War Office.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

R. H. MEADE.

No. 11.

Colonial Office to War Office.

(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,

Downing Street, February 8, 1879. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to acknowledge the receipt of your Confidential letter of the 8th ultimo,* suggesting the appointment of a local Com- mittee in Hong Kong to consider the question of the proposed enlistment or employment of Chinese to assist the regular forces in the defence of that station.

2. Sir Michael Hicks Beach will be prepared to instruct Governor Hennessy to appoint a local Committee, as requested by Colonel Stanley; but I am to request that Colonel Stanley's attention may be directed to the letter from the Foreign Office of the 17th October,t in which Lord Salisbury expressed his entire concurrence with the views expressed by Sir Thomas Wade in his letter of the 30th September. In that letter Sir T. Wade observes: "I am opposed, therefore, to enlistment at Hong Kong, or to the employment of Chinese as soldiers, except within very narrow limits;" and it may be a question whether, in his opinion, those limits have not already been reached.

3. With regard to your observation that Sir Thomas Wade's chief objection to the enrolment of Chinese for service in Hong Kong, namely, that they could not be relied upon in case of a misunderstanding with the Chinese Government, would not hold good in the event of war with Russia or any other Power, I am to observe that Sir Thomas Wade's objections apparently related to a state of peace as well as to a state of war; and he appears to think that such a misunderstanding might arise whilst this country was engaged in war with a third Power, as well as at any other time.

4. Sir Michael Hicks Beach would be glad to be favoured with Colonel Stanley's views with regard to the further question raised by Governor Hennessy, viz., of recruiting Chinese regiments for service elsewhere than in Hong Kong, which proposal Sir Thomas Wade appears to favour in his letter already referred to; and I am to request to be informed whether, in the event of a local Committee being appointed in Hong Kong, Colonel Stanley would wish that this question should also be discussed.

I am, &c. (Signed) R. H. MEADE.

No. 12.

Admiralty to Colonial Office.

(Confidential.) Sir,

Admiralty, February 12, 1879. WITH reference to previous correspondence respecting the proposal to give up King George's Sound, West Australia, as a coaling station, and to your letter of the 23rd January last, inclosing an extract of a despatch from the Governor of that Colony on the subject, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you, for the information of Sir Michael Hicks Beach, that they fail to see any reasons advanced in the despatch to cause them to alter the views which their Lordships entertain, and which were communicated to you in my letter dated the 10th May, 1878;§ and they do not propose to have any coal depôt in King George's Sound for Her Majesty's ships.

* No. 3.

I am, &c. (Signed)

ROBERT HALL.

No. 346 of Miscellaneous, No. 35 E. § No. 86 of Miscellaneous, No. 35 E.

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‡ No. 6.

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