HC Deb 27 April 1891 vol 352 cc1473-4
LORD HENRY BRUCE (Wilts, Chippenham)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies why the War Office and Colonial Office combined have increased the yearly payments of the Straits Settlements from 236,600 dollars to 615,000 dollars; whether the increased garrison, promised to the colony in return, is proportionate to the increased payment demanded; whether his attention has been drawn to the statement of Governor Sir Cecil Smith, K.C.M.G., in his Despatch to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, dated 19th February, 1890— " I found myself wholly unable to conscientiously support the justice of all the claims which Her Majesty's Government had made, and the same views which I held were shared in by every Member of my Council. My instructions, however, were perfectly clear, and I had to require each Member of the Executive Council to vote against his conviction in support of the claims of Her Majesty's Government "; and whether the Government, when apportioning the just contribution the colony should pay towards the Mother Country, will take into consideration the fact that it is an important Imperial coaling station, and of Imperial vitality to Great Britain?

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Baron H. de WORMS,) Liverpool, East Toxteth

The recent decision to increase the military contribution payable by the Straits Settlements was not that of any particular Department, but of Her Majesty's Government. It is not admitted that 236,600 dollars was the full sum formerly payable. The increase has been from £50,145 to £100,000. The force paid for by the colony under the Agreement of 1871 was one wing of an Infantry regiment and one battery of Artillery, or about 561 of all ranks, while the force on which its present contribution is calculated is about 1,500 of all ranks, exclusive, in each case, of staff and departments. The increase of the force charged for has, therefore, in the view of Her Majesty's Government, been about 167 per cent., while the increase in the contribution is only about 100 per cent. I have, of course, seen the Despatch referred to by my noble Friend. The amount of military contribution to be paid by the Straits Settlements has been already decided by Her Majesty's Government, and he will find the material facts and arguments on the subject set forth in the Papers recently presented to Parliament (C. 6,220.)