CAB9-1_PT2 — Page 97

Page 97

sent to the General Commanding at Gibraltar, so that he may consider how far the system proposed to be adopted with regard to the 160,000 inhabitants of Malta could advantageously be applied to the 8,750 civilians who, it is assumed, will remain at Gibraltar in war.

The question is a difficult one. Though the Committee think it unadvisable to hamper the Government and interfere with ordinary arrangements while such are possible, it seems to them that some control would be essential in the case of actual siege or appearance of scarcity. On the whole, they think it will be best if, on out- break of hostilities with a Maritime Power, steps are taken to bring up the reserve in the hands of Government to four months' supply for garrison and civil population, and to maintain it at this amount, but to leave the distribution in the hands of the ordinary traders, at any rate until the receipt of fresh supplies becomes seriously impeded. By arrangements with the traders it should be possible to constantly renew the reserve, and by the powers conferred on the Governor by sub-clause 8, Clause II, of the Order in Council of the 26th October, 1896, it will be possible to prevent traders taking advantage of the circumstances to make undue profit from food supplies in their hands.

When it became necessary to make distribution of rations from the reserve, this would be done at Gibraltar according to paragraph 18, p. 62, of the Scheme through the agency of the Chiefs of districts, aided by the police. At Malta small District Committees are appointed for this work. The latter arrangement appears to have some advantages.

Covering Letter to Civil Scheme.

4. Page 3, paragraph 2 (c).—Paragraph 20 on p. 62 of the Scheme requires modification in accordance with this paragraph of the covering letter.

5. Page 4, paragraph 3.-A reference to the Proclamation of the Order in Council of the 26th October, 1896, should be contained in paragraph 8 on p. 60 of the Scheme.

The action to be taken in accordance with Clause 2, Section 189, of the Army Act, with regard to making the forces in the Colony temporarily subject to the Army Act as if they were on active service, should also be laid down here.

6. Page 4, paragraph 4.-The notifications which will be made to the Governor in accordance with Lord Knutsford's Circular despatch of the 2nd July, 1891, differ from those referred to as No. 1 and No. 2 in paragraph 6 on p. 60 of the Scheme, and this and the following two paragraphs require modification.

7. Page 4, paragraph 5 and page 5.-The Colonial Defence Committee consider that the question of the disposal of the coal-hulks is satisfactorily dealt with in the General's letter, dated the 29th June, 1897, and in paragraph 22 now printed on p. 62 of the Scheme. It is presumed that the arrangements by which guards of eight to ten men are to be put on board the hulks in certain contingencies to deny their use to an enemy will be embodied in the next revision of the Defence Scheme. The second foot-note on p. 60 of the Scheme will also require modification.

8. Page 4, paragraph 6.-The further communication of the General on the subject of the examination of vessels is still awaited.

9. Page 4, paragraphs 7 to 11.-The Colonial Defence Committee concur generally in the statement contained in these paragraphs with regard to demands for money likely to be made at a time of probable attack. They have communicated with the Treasury on the subject, and have been informed as follows:-

"Upon the whole, the Treasury does not anticipate that the prospect of a siege would increase the demand for coin to any formidable extent.

"

Those of the civil population who were allowed to remain would certainly be in no special need of coin, because the transactions requiring such a medium of exchange would be rather reduced than otherwise, and they would feel that their deposits were safer in bank than in their own homes. Depression of business would lead to a certain amount of withdrawals, but this would be gradual in operation.

<<

The people who would make sudden demands on the Colonial Government Savings Bank and the Anglo-Egyptian Bank would be those who were compelled to leave by the action of the

Page 97

59

Page 97

i