GUERRE SUD-AFRICAINE
Correspondance échangée entre M. Chamberlain et le gouvernement canadien (*)
No. 18 i
Mr. CHAMBERLAIN to Governor-General The Earl of MINTO
(Sent 5.15 p.m., October 3, 1899.) Telegram.
Secrctary of State for War and Commandcr-in-Chief désire to express high appréciation of signal exhibition of patriotic spirit of peoplc of Canada shown by offers to serve in South Africa, and to furnish following information to assist organization of force offered into units suitable for military rcquirements. Firstly, units should consist of about 125 men; secondly, may be infantry, mounted infantry, or cavalry; in view of numbers already available infantry most, eavalry least, serviceable; thirdly, ail should be armed with .303 rifles or carbines, which can be supplicd by Impérial Government if necessary; foùrthly, ail must provide own equipment, and mounted troops own horses; fifthly, not more than one captain and three subalterns oach unit. Whole force may be commanded by officcr not higher than major. In considering numbers which can be employed, Secretary of State for War guided by nature of offers, by désire that each Colony should be fairly reprensented, and limits necessary if force is to be fully utilized by available staff as intégral portion of Impérial forces; would gladly accept four units. Conditions as follows: Troops to be disembarked at port of landing South Africa fully equipped at cost of Colonial Government or volunteers. From date of disembarkation Impérial Government will provide pay at Impérial rates, supplies, and ammunition, and will defray expenscs of transport back to Canada, and pay wound pensions and compassionate allowances at Impérial rates. Troops to embark not later than 31st October, proceeding direct to Cape Town for orders. Inform accordingly ail who have offered to raise voluntcers.
No. 40.
Governor-General The Earl of MINTO to Mr. CHAMBERLAIN.
(Receivcd 8.20 a.m., October 14, 1899.) Telegxam.
(Extract.)
Much pleasurc in telling you that my Government offers 1,000 infantry on organisation proposed in your telegram of the 3rd Ocîober.
No. 45.
Mr. CHAMBERLAIN to Governor-General The Earl of MINTO
(Sent 12.40 p.m., October lli, 1899.) Telegram.
Her Majesty's Government have received with much pleasure your telegram of 13th October, conveying Canada's generous offer of 1,000 troops, which they gratefully accept.
No. 53.
Governor-General The Earl of MINTO to Mr. CHAMBERLAIN.
(Received midnight, October 18, 1899.) Telegram.
(Extract.)
After full considération my Ministers have decided to offer a régiment of infantry, 1,000 strong, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Otter.
(l)Correspondence relating to the Despatch of Colonial Military Contingents to South Africa, 1880 [Cd 18]).
My Ministcrs hope that Canndian contingent will be kcpt together as iuuch as possible, but rtalize that this must be left to discrétion of War Office and Commanderin-Chief.
No. 64.
Governor-General The Earl of MINTO to Mr. CHAMBERLAIN.
(Received 1.10 a.m., October 24, 1899.)
Telefrram.
(Answered by No. 68.)
My Government ask me ascertain whether War Office sending Army Post Office
Corps to South Africa. If so, Canada would send five trained officiais for post office
duties with Canadian contingent. If approved, please inform me what class of clerks
will be requlred. My Government will pay ail cxpcnses or whatever proportion
suggested.
No. 66.
Mr. CHAMBERLAIN to Governor-General Th- Earl of MINTO.
(Sent October 24, 1899.)
Telegram.
(Answered by No. 67.) Her Majesty the Queen désires to thank the people of lier Dominion of Canada for their striking manifestation of loyalty and patriotism in their voluntary offer to send troops to co-operate with Her Majesty's Impérial forces in maintaining lier position and the rights of British subjects in South Africa. She wishes the troops God speed nnd a safe rcturn.
No. 67.
Governor-General The Earl of MINTO to Mr. CHAMBERLAIN.
(Received 11.23 p.m., October 25, 1899.) Telefrram.
The people of Canada received with sincère gratification message from Her Majesty the Queen, ct.nveying her thanks for Canada's contribution to the British troops now en route for South Africa. The good wishes expressed by their Sovereign for Her Canadian troops will inspire them with deep sentiments of loyalty and patriotism, and with a détermination to sustain the réputation that Canadian Volunteers hâve earned in the past history of this part of the Empire.
No. 68.
Mr. CHAMBERLAIN to Governor-General The Earl of MINTO. (Sent 1.20 p.m., October 26, 1899.) Telefrram.
Referring to your telegram, October 21, Secretary of State for War grateful for generous offer of Canadian Government, but need not avail himself of it, as arrangements for Army Post Office Corps completed.
No. 89.
Mr. CHAMBERLAIN to Governor-General The Earl of MINTO.
(Sent 2 p.m., Novcmber 7, 1899.) Telefrram.
Your Ministcrs' generous offer to send without delay second contingent for service in South Africa has received the attentive considération of Secretary of State for War and his military advisers, but they regret that under existing circumstances they are unable to accept it. The offer will, however, certainly be borne in mind, and Her Majesty's Government will hâve no hésitation in availing themselves of it should future events make it désirable to do so. Her Majesty's Governement attach great importance to this fresh proof of Canadian sympathy and good will, and désire to express their grateful appréciation of it.
No. 93.
Governor-General The Earl of MIXTO to Mr. CHAMBERLAIN.
(Received November 2, 1899.)
(Answered by No. 95.)
(Ex tract.}
Government House, Ottawa, October 20, 1899. I bave tbc honour, in reply to your cable despatch of October 3rd, to forward a Privy Couneil Order, authorizing the despatch of 1,000 volunteers to serve with Impérial troops in South Africa.
It is intended that this force should bc organized as a régiment of two battalions and that it should be commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Otter, an excellent officer, who served with distinction in the North-West Campaign, in 1885, and is at présent commanding the Toronto District.
For information of the War Office, I attach copies of Militia Orders, which will explain the lines on which the force is being composed.
My Government is in treaty with the Allau Line Company for the use of the s. s. "Sardinian," which it is calculated will be capable of conveying the whole contingent, and sbe is expected to sail from Québec on the 31st instant.
Enclosure 1 in No. 93.
Extract from a Report of the Committee of the Honourable the Privy Couneil,
approved by His Excellency on the 14 October, 1899.
The Committee of the Privy Couneil hâve had under considération a despatch, dated 3rd October, 1899, from the Right Honourable Mr. Chamberlain.
The Right Honourable Sir Wilfrid Laurier, to whom the said dispatch was referred, observes that the Colonial Secretary, in answer to the offers which hâve been sent to him from différent parts of Canada expressing the willingness and anxiety of Canadians to serve Her Majesty's Government in the war which for a long time has been threatening with the Transvaal Republic and which, unfortunately, has actually commenced, enuneiates the conditions under which such offers may be accepted by the Impérial authorities. Those conditions may be practically summed up in the statement that a certain number of volunteers by units of 125 men, with a few officers, will be accepted to serve in the British Army now operating in South Africa, the moment they reach the coast, provided the expenses of their equipment and transportation to South Africa, are defrayed either by themselves or by the Colonial Government.
The Piime Ministcr, in view of the well known désire of a great many Canadians who are ready to take service under such conditions, is of opinion that the moderate expenditure which would thus be involved for the equipment and transportation of such volunteers may readily be undertaken by the Government of Canada without summoning Parliament, cspecially as such an expenditure under such circumstances cannot be regarded as a departure from the well known principles of constitutional government and colonial practice, nor construed as a précèdent for future action.
AIready, under similar conditions, New Zealand has sent two companies, Queensland is about to send 250 men, and West Australia and Tasmania are sending 125 men each.
The Prime' Minister, therefore, recommends that out of the stores now avuilable in the Militia Department, the Government undertake to equip a certain number of volunteers, not to exceed 1,000 men, and to provide for their transportation from this country to South Africa, and that the Ministcr of Militia make ail necessary arrangements to the above effect.
The Committee advise that Your Excellency be moved to forward a certified eopy of this Minute to the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
Ail of which is respectfully submitted for Your Excellency's approval.
JOHN .1. McGEE, Clerk of the Privy Couneil.
Xo 95.
Mr. CHAMBERLAIN to Governor-General The Earl of MINTO. My Lord, Downing Street, November 15, 1899.
I received from you on the 2nd instant a copy of an Approved Minute of the Dominion Privy Couneil, dated the 14th of October, 1899, in which your Ministers
authorized the cquipment and despatch of 1000 volunteers for service with the Impérial troops in South Africa
The great enthusiasm and the gênerai eagerness to take an active part in the military expédition which has unfortunately heen found necessary for the maintenance of British rights and interests in South Africa hâve afforded mucli gratification to Her Majesty's Government and the peoplc of this country. The désire thus exhibited to share in the risks and burdens of Empire has been welcomed, not only as a proof of the staunch loyalty of the Dominion, and of its sympathy with the policy pursued by Her Majesty's Government in South Africa, but also as an expression of that growing feeling of the unity and solidarity of the Empire which has marked the relations of the Mother Country with the Colonies during récent ycars.
The thanks of Her Majesty's Government are specially due to your Ministers for the cordial manner in which they hâve undertaken and carried through the work of organizing and equipping the Canadian contingent.
I hâve, &c,
