A.—2

20

The following additions are made to the list of articles of absolute contraband attached to the decree of the 27th February, 1916 : — Under No. 8, after " sulphur " add " sulphate of barium." Under No. 9, oxalic acid and the oxalates, formic acid and the formiates, pheuolates; sulphites and metallic hyposulphites; soda-lime and bleaching-powder; strontium salts; lithium salts and their compounds. Under No. 33, after "vanadium" add "titanium," "uranium"; after "nickel add "zinc "; after " steel containing tungsten or molybdenum " add " or titanium or uranium." Under No. 35, alloys of aluminium. Under No. 40, ferro-titanium and ferro-uranium. Under No. 41, strontium and lithium ores. Under No. 44, bone black. Under No. 45, quillaia bark. 58. Zirconium, cerium, thorium, and all their alloys and compounds; zirconia and monazite sands. 59. Silk cocoons. 60. Uncut diamonds for industrial uses. 6.1. Platinum (ore metal and salts) and similar ores (iridium, osmium, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, &c), and their salts and alloys. The following modifications are made in the above-mentioned list of absolute contraband : — No. 4 is modified as follows: "emery, corundum, carborundum in all their forms, and all other abrasive materials, whether natural or artificial, and articles made of these materials." In No. 8 replace "ethyl alcohol, methyl alcohol" by the following: "alcohols, including fusel-oil and wood-spirit, and their derivatives and preparations." In No. 41 replace "wolframite, scheelite, molybdenite" by "tungsten, molybdenum, vanadium, titanium, and uranium ores." No. 50 is replaced by the following: Cold; silver; paper representing money; shares; negotiable instruments of credit; cheques; drafts; money-orders; coupons;, letters of credit, authorization or advice, advices of credit or debit or other documents which on being filled in or used by the receiver authorize, confirm, or render effective the transfer of money, credits, or shares." The following additions are made to the list of articles of conditional contraband attached to the decree of the 27th February, 1916 : — Under No. 5, after " fuel other than mineral oils " add " including charcoal." 17. Raw and dressed sponges. 18. Glues, gelatines, and substances used in their preparation. 19. Empty barrels and cases of all kinds and their component parts. The present decree comes into force on the day of its publication.

New Zealand, No. 58. No. 27. My Lord, — Downing Street, 17th April, 1917. With reference to my telegram of the 10th April, I have the honour to transmit to Your Excellency, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a letter from the India Otfice on the subject of the appointment of officers of the Dominion Forces to commissions in the Indian Army and Indian Army Reserve. I have, &c, WALTER IT. LONG. Governor His Excellency the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, G.C.M.G., M.V.0., &c

Enclosure. g IR ;_ India Office, Whitehall, London S.W., 9th April, 1917. In reply to your letter of the 17th March, 1917, No. 14112, I am directed to inform you that no special number of appointments, either to the permanent Indian Army or to tnu Indian Army Reserve of Officers, have been allotted to candidates from the Forces of the Dominions, and it appears to bo a matter for the respective Governments of the Dominions to decide the maximum number of their respective officers whom they would be willing to spare. The Government of India estimated that 246 vacancies in the Indian Army should be offered to officers of the British Service (including any offered to officers of the Forces of the Dominions) up to November next. Most of these vacancies have now been filled, and it is not possible to say what further supply will be required after. November, 1917. As regards appointments to the Indian Army Reserve (which, are for the period of the war only), the Government of India suggested that fifty a month might be made from candidates serving out of India, but it is very doubtful whether that number of suitable candidates will be forthcoming. I have, ivc, W. H. Swain, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. For Joint Military Secretary.