CAB7-1 — Page 74

Page 74

Page 74

Page 74

(Secret and Confidential.)

Sir,

90

No. 182.

Colonial Office to Treasury.

Downing Street, June 21, 1878. WITH reference to the letter from this Department of the 20th April,* inclosing the Report of the Colonial Defence Committee on the Cape of Good Hope and the Eastern Colonies, together with a copy of a letter to the War Office respecting the Colonial contri- bution towards the proposed defences of Singapore, I am directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, to be laid before the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, a copy of a letter in reply which has now been received from the War Office.†

2. In accordance with the suggestion of the Secretary of State for War, Sir Michael Hicks Beach would recommend for their Lordships' sanction the expenditure of 4,2007. on the battery at Tanjong Kutong and 3,000l. for the guns, making altogether 7,2001., forming part of the extra proposals of the Colonial Defence Committee for the Straits Settlements, which expenditure was not authorized by their Lordships' letter of the 2nd ultimo

3. With reference to the letter to the War Office, I am to observe that it was of course intended to obtain the sanction of the Lords Commissioners before making any proposal to the Colony, but that it was necessary, in the first instance, to ascertain if, in the opinion of the Secretary of State for War, the suggestion there made was a fair and proper one.

4. I am to add that Sir Michael proposes to await the recommendations of the Colonial Defence Committee, to whom the general subject of the apportionment of cost has been referred, and I am to inclose, for their Lordships' information, a copy of a letter which has been addressed to the Committee on this point.

No. 183.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

R. H. MEADE.

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

(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,

Downing Street, June 21, 1878. WITH reference to the letter from this Department of the 31st ultimo, § I am directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, in order that the Committee may have the matter fully before them when they take up the subject of the Singapore contribution, a copy of a letter which he caused to be addressed to the War Office on this subject, together with a copy of the reply which has now been received to that letter; and 1 am to inform you that Sir Michael Hicks Beach has recommended to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury that the additional works should be undertaken.

+

I am, &c. Signed)

R. H. MEADE.

No. 184.

War Office to Colonial Office.

you

(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,

War Office, June 21, 1878. WITH reference to your letter dated the 29th May, 1878, on the subject of guns, &c., required for the defence of Newfoundland, I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to request that you will inform Sir Michael Hicks Beach that the six 64-pounder guns therein referred to are Naval Reserve guns, and that if he will obtain the consent of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to their being lent for the defence of St. John's, Secretary Colonel Stanley will have no objection to their removal from Halifax.

With regard to the opinion expressed by Sir Michael flicks Beach that it would only be fair that the three 7-ton and three 64-pounder guns recommended by the Colonial Defence Committee, together with the small arms and accoutrements, should be presented to the Colony, it should be stated that the full value of the guns and stores brought home

* No. 45.

† No. 172.

↑ No. 67.

§ No. 140.

No. 136.

Page 74

Page 74