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Inclosure in No. 3.

Colonial Office to War Office.

Downing Street, December 8, 1881. Sir,

I AM directed by the Earl of Kimberley to acknowlege the receipt of your letter of the 24th November, and to state, in reply, that his Lordship concurs with Mr. Secretary Childers that Gibraltar, Malta, Bermuda, and Halifax, being Imperial fortresses, should be treated as outside the scope of the inquiry confided to the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad.

I am, &c.

Appendix No. 3,

No. 4.

(Signed)

R. H. MEADE.

Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad to Colonial Office.

(Confidential.) Sir,

13, Delahay Street, March 29, 1882.

I AM directed by the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad to transmit to you the inclosed copy of a letter from the War Office,* and to request that it may be brought to the notice of the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

The Commission have not been favoured with the correspondence which has clearly passed between the War Office and Colonial Office, but they gather that the Secretary of State for War is in agreement with the Secretary of State for the Colonies that Gibraltar, Malta, Bermuda, and Halifax should be withdrawn from their consideration.

When this Commission was appointed, it was understood that the state of the defences of these fortresses was an integral part of their inquiry; and Lord Kimberley will observe, on a careful perusal of the Reports, and of the evidence which the Commission have already taken, especially that of His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, how largely this consideration has entered into their calcu- lations and recommendations.

The Royal Commission do not desire to question what they understand to be the decision of Her Majesty's Government on the subject, and they feel confident that Her Majesty's Government will, without loss of time, take every measure to satisfy themselves as to the condition of these four most important fortresses in respect of works, armaments, garrisons, and supplies, with a view to their security.

But they think it due to themselves and to the grave duty which has been committed to them to place upon record the fact that they are absolved by this letter from that which they have hitherto regarded as a part of that duty.

No. 5.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

HERBERT JEKYLL.

Colonial Office to Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad.

Downing Street, April 22, 1882.

(Confidential.) Sir,

I AM directed by the Earl of Kimberley to acknowledge the receipt of your Confidential letter of the 29th March with reference to the question of the exclusion from consideration by the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad of the question of the defences of Gibraltar, Malta, Bermuda, and Halifax; and I am to request that you will state to the Royal Commissioners that a copy of your letter has been sent to the Secretary of State for War.

[1103]

* No. 3.

+ No. 4.

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I am, &c. (Signed)

R. H. MEADE.

M

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