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Enclosure. Sir,— Department of State, Washington, 7th July, 1923. I beg to inform you that I am in receipt of a communication from the Secretary of the Navy regarding the recent visit to New Zealand of Captain E. T. Pollock, United States Navy, Governor of American Samoa, and relating particularly to the courtesies extended to him and to the officers and the crew of the U.S.S. " Ontario " on the occasion of his visit, and requesting that the appreciation of the Navy Department be extended to the appropriate New Zealand authorities for the cordial reception accorded to Captain Pollock. I should appreciate it if you would hi) good enough to express to the New Zealand Government the deep appreciation of this Government for the courtesies and hospitality extended to Captain Pollock and to the officers and crew of the " Ontario," and to state that this Government is much gratified by this expression of friendly feeling on the part of the people of New Zealand for the United States. Accept, sir, the renewed assurance of my high consideration. Charles E. Hughes. Mr. Henry Getty Chilton, Charge d'Affairs ad interim of Great Britain.

No. 23. New Zealand, Dominions No. 331. My Lord, — Downing Street, 3rd September, 1923. With reference to Viscount Harcourt's despatch, No. 73, of the 18th February, .1915, and to my predecessor's despatch, Dominions No. 170, of the 30th May, 1922, I have the honour to transmit to Your Excellency, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a revised Memorandum of Conditions relating to the employment of British soldiers under the Governments of the Dominions, colonies, protectorates, and mandated territories. I have, &c, DEVONSHIRE. Governor-General His Excellency the Right Hon. Viscount Jellicoe, G.C.8., 0.M., G.C.V.0., &c.

Enclosure. Memorandum of Conditions relating to the Employment of British Soldiers in Colonial Service. Applications will be considered by the Army Council for the loan of British soldiers serving on their Army engagement for employment under the Governments of the self-governing Dominions, colonies, protectorates, or mandated territories for a specified term on duties which are of a military nature or which will increase the soldier's military experience. Extensions of the period of employment may be sanctioned by the Army Council if the circumstances of the case render such, a course desirable, but it must be borne in mind that the longer the soldier is absent from the Army the less likely is the Army to reap the benefit of the experience gained by his colonial employment. 2. The principle on which the incidence of charges connected with the loan of soldiers to Colonial Governments is determined is that the borrowing Government shall bear the pay, &c, of the soldier, and discharge all liabilities arising out of his status as a soldier which, would under other circumstances be defrayable by the Army Council, during the period of the loan and pending the soldier's return to the Imperial establishment or his discharge. It is pointed out that for the present no charge is made to Colonial Governments in respect of the heavy expense of training the soldier lent and any successor whom it may be necessary to appoint to fill his place in the Army. 3. With the object of specifying the charges which usually fall on colonial funds the following rules have been prepared ; they do not, however, claim to be exhaustive, and it must be clearly understood that the responsibility of the Colonial Government which employs a soldier extends not only to the. liabilities specifically mentioned in this memorandum, but to all the other liabilities referred to above, whether such liabilities are imposed on the Army Council by laws or regulations which existed at the time when the period of the loan began or whether they are imposed by laws or regulations issued during the engagement. Liabilities arising from the Soldier's Military Status. 4. Soldiers who are lent during the period of their colour service for employment under the Governments of the self-governing Dominions, colonies, protectorates, or mandated territories are entitled to receive not less than their pay and allowances at Army rates throughout the period during which they are struck off regimental duty for the purpose of colonial employment, and to receive reasonable medical and dental treatment free, both during their resident service and while on leave.

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