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Printed for the use of the Colonial Office. December 23, 1887.

CONFIDENTIAL.

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Despatch from the Governor, forwarding Report by the

Chief of Police.

ST. VINCENT.

Remarks by Colonial Defence Committee.

AT present no means exist for local defence at St. Vincent, where the only armed force consists of eighty police. The Chief of Police considers that there would be no difficulty in raising a "militia or volunteer force of from 1,000 to 1,500 men ;" and the Governor asks "whether Her Majesty's Government would be willing to furnish the Colony with a few serviceable guns for the defence of the harbour, and a supply of rifles for arming a militia or volunteer force."

The Colonial Defence Committee are of opinion that the Imperial Govern- ment should not undertake the creation of defences of any kind in a Colony such as St. Vincent. At the same time, they have invariably recommended the policy of giving all possible encouragement to local defence where there are any available materials for the purpose. They consider that such encouragement is due to all Colonies which evince any signs of military spirit, and that the creation of purely local forces, able in time of war to guard points other than the fortresses and coaling stations, would be a definite advantage to the Empire, apart from the protection which may be thus afforded to Colonial property. Moreover, by the development of local forces, which would in time regard themselves as part of the Imperial strength, there can be no doubt that the sentiment of loyalty to the Empire will be promoted, and the bonds which unite its scattered members will be strengthened.

St. Vincent appears to offer a case in point. The old work-Fort Charlotte occupies a strong position, easily defensible by a small body of men. At 600 feet above the sea-level, it dominates all the approaches to Kingstown, and the provision of a few rifled muzzle-loading guns, which will shortly be available in considerable numbers, would render the visit of unarmoured or lightly-armoured vessels practically impossible.

If, therefore, it is definitely ascertained that the Colony is willing to mount guns in Fort Charlotte, and to maintain an efficient force of militia or volunteers as appears from the papers above referred to the Colonial Defence Committee strongly recommend that three 7-inch rifled muzzle-loaders or three 64-pounders, and an equipment of ammunition, together with 500 stand of small arms, should be presented by the Imperial Government, the cost of freight, and the charges entailed in preparing the mountings for service, to be borne by the Colony. The Colony should, in addition, be required to provide and maintain qualified artillery and infantry instructors, one of whom should be trained as an armourer.

The efficiency of a local force thus raised should be tested by a periodical inspection by an officer in the West Indies command.

December 22, 1887.

(Signed)

G. S. CLARKE, Secretary,

Colonial Defence Committee.

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PRINTED AT THE FOREIGN OFFICE BY T, HARRISON.—23/12/87.

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