12 
6. Another example of the need of research is furnished by the destructive agencies of various 
kinds, such as animal and plant diseases, insect pests, etc., which are responsible at the present 
time for an enormous amount of damage in the Colonies. Such damage can literally be assessed 
in millions of pounds. A aluable work in this sphere has already been done and continues to be done 
in many parts of the Empire, but there is undoubtedly great scope for extended research. Such 
work is likely to prove exceptionally fruitful, since many of these destructive agencies are widely 
distributed, and scientific discoveries which have been made in one Colony can often be utilised else¬ 
where. The scale on which this destruction takes place is well illustrated by a recent despatch 
from the Acting Governor of the East Africa Protectorate reporting that “ more scientific and pro¬ 
gressive methods must be adopted in dealing with stock diseases in native reserves if the future 
welfare of the stock industry is to be secured It would be difficult to estimate the annual loss from 
the ravages of stock diseases in native reserves, but if it were placed at the low estimate of twelve 
per cent, it would easily represent a sum of approximately one million pounds per annum.” 
7. In Colonies and Protectorates whose financial resources are small, such as the one under 
your government, there has hitherto, ofteD been great difficulty in finding the means to carry out 
investigations in themselves very desirable. I am glad to be able to inform you that, for the benefit 
mainly of such Colonies and Protectorates, I have obtained the consent of the Lords Commissioners 
of the Treasury to the provision of a liberal grant of £20,000 a year from the Estimates of the United 
Kingdom for 1919-20 and the four following years, to be expended in stimulating scientific research 
with a view to developing the economic resources of the Colonies and Protectorates. This grant, if 
it is duly voted, will be administered by a small Committee, to be known as the Colonial Research 
Committee, which will work in co-operation with the Department of Scientific and Industrial 
Research, the Imperial Mineral Resources Bureau, the Universities, particularly those of industrial 
districts, and other existing institutions. In the first instance, the members of the Committee will 
be Mr. H. J. Mackinder, M.P. (Chairman), two Assistant Under Secretaries of State for the 
Colonies, and Sir Prank Heath, the Secretary of the Department for Scientific and Industrial 
Research. The grant, liberal though it is, is evidently insufficient for a large number of researches, 
and the Committee will have to content itself with selecting for investigation a few of the most 
promising of the subjects which may be brought to its notice. 
A j It may sometimes be the case that a research may be required which would be chiefly in the 
collective interests of the Empire or in the interests of some part of. it other than the part in which 
the research would be carried out. If it were convenient that such a research should be undertaken 
by a Colonial Government, the fact that that Government is prosperous would not debar it from 
participating in the grant.] 
8. To the whole question of research and investigation raised by this despatch I attach the 
greatest possible importance, and I, trust that you will give it your personal consideration, in 
consultation with your scientific and economic officers and with suitable members of the unofficial 
community, and that von will then furnish me with a brief review of the present position of affairs, 
and with an account of the further steps which in vour judgment should be taken in the near future. 
B [You should also send in time to arrive by the end of November next particulars of 
any proposals which you may wish to be laid before the Committee in connection with the grant for 
1919-20. It would be well that you should not omit any appropriate research of which the need can 
be foreseen, since but few researches can be completed in one year, and accordingly the grants for 
years subsequent to 1919-20 may be to some extent hypothecated by the Committee’s first decision. 
Tf you are ready to make any particular proposal at once, such proposal should he sent in advance 
of the general review, and as soon as possible.] 
9. There is no objection to the publication of this despatch. 
I have the honour to be, 
Sir. 
Your most obedient, humble servant, 
, Milner. 
APPENDIX II. C 
This Appendix consists of a summary of the replies received to the despatches* printed 
in Appendix I, and gives a brief review of the principal researches which are being carried on by the 
Colonial Governments out of their own resources. In some cases notes have been added giving 
particulars of measures adopted since the dates of the replies, and other supplementary information. 
EAST AFRICA. 
KENYA COLONY. 
The greater part of the Governor’s reply is quoted below:— 
“ The subject of research is, of course, a very extensive one, but it has, to some extent, been 
covered by the Report of the Economic Commission, published at Nairobi in 1919. I have now 
consulted the heads of the various Departments principally concerned and the following remarks are 
a brief indication of the existing position, though they are in no way exhaustive. 
