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IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT. and in accordance with the instructions of the Colonial Office on pain of dismissal from their offices. Agitation, such as we have seen is so common in the self-governing Colonies, would be too dangerous an example for a handful of Europeans to set to a large native population. The Colonial Office, therefore, can treat the Colony almost as it pleases without fear of the consequences.

Let me give one instance which will show you that the authority of the Colonial Office can be pushed to an extent that you may never have realised before. It is a question affecting the defences of the Colony of Singapore. In 1885, as a result of Lord Carnarvon's Committee on the coaling stations, an arrangement was arrived at by which the Colony of the Straits Settlements was to undertake the works of the forts, while the Home Government supplied the armament; 80,000/. was cheerfully voted by the Colony for this purpose, and the works were completed, as I saw with my own eyes, long before the promised armament was ready. Early last year the Secretary for State claimed the following additional contributions: (a) 29,000l. for loss on exchange.

(b) 60,000l. for five years for barracks.

(c) 100,000l. instead of 50,000l. for military contribution. When the matter came before the Council the elected members protested against the vote of 100,000/., but expressed willingness to agree to the two first demands. The vote was carried by the votes of the official members, and with regard to their votes the Governor said in his dispatch to the Secretary of State, 'I found myself unable to support all the claims which Her 13