59 



Colonies of the tobacco required for His Majesty's Naval service, 

 together with copies of correspondence with the Admiralty on the 

 subject. 



I have, etc., 

 (Sgd.) Alfred Lyttelton, 



13 Devonshire Square, Bishopsgate, E.C., 



20th September, 1905. 

 C. P. Lucas, Esq., C.B., Colonial Office. 

 SIR, 

 I have the honour to report to you the result of my interview 

 with you some time since, upon the introduction of Sir Alfred 

 Jones. I have been twice to the West Indies, Jamaica, and have 

 also reported upon growths from Barbados and St. Kitts to the 

 Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture. At the request of the Lords 

 of the Admiralty, I blended and manufactured 8,657 tins of tobacco 

 by way of experiment for the Navy, and I am pleased to tell you 

 that the production is second to none. Should this meet with the 

 approval of the seamen, it will give a great impetus to the West 

 Indian Tobacco Industry, and I see no reason in future, if proper 

 care and advice are given, why the whole of the tobacco for the 

 Navy should not be composed of tobacco grown in one or other of 

 the Colonies, entirely eliminating foreign growth. Such being 

 the case. Colonial tobacco would vie with American or any other 

 growth. In other kinds of tobacco, I have advised Jamaica to ex- 

 periment and the results are most gratifying, and I have reported 

 that in my opinion, with some small modifications the productions 

 should compete with Havana and Sumatra, and I am told the in- 

 crease in acreage this year is to be very considerable, but this ex- 

 periment will have to be watched most carefully and continu- 

 ously or there will sure to be delay, if not relapse. 



I am, etc., 

 (Sgd.) F. V. Chalmers. 



33923-1905 Downing Street, 26th September, 1905. 



The Secretary to the Admiralty, 

 Sir, 

 With reference to your letter of the 15th of December last, (V. 

 8192) relative to Mr. F. V. Chalmers' suggestion for the supply from 

 British Colonies of the tobacco required by His Majesty's Naval 

 service, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton to acquaint you, 

 for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, 

 that he understands that 8,657 tins of West Indian tobacco have 

 been supplied by Mr. Chalmers for the Navy, by way of experi- 

 ment, and I am to state that Mr. Lyttelton would be glad to be 

 informed of the result of this experiment. 



1 am, 



(Sgd.) C. P. Lucas. 



