A.—2

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require the consent of the Government o* New Zealand under that article. I have no doubt that your Ministers will readily agree to the Admiralty proposals. I have, &c, ALFRED LYTTELTON. Governor the Right Hon. the Earl of Ranfurly, G.C.M.G., &c. Enclosure. Sir,— Admiralty, 20th November, 1903. With reference to your letter (No. 37458/03) of the 17th ultimo, forwarding copy of ''The Naval Agreement Act, 1903," of the Commonwealth of Australia, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to request you will inform Mr Secretary Lyttelton that they concur in the proposal to inform the Governor-General that His Majesty will not be advised to exercise his powers of disallowance with respect to this Act. I am to add that the suggested alterations in the limits of the China and Australian Stations so as to include the Cocos and Christmas Islands in the former command, and the alteration of the limits of the Cape of Good Hope and East Indies Station so as to include the Chagos Archipelago and Diego Garcia with the latter command, in which the Secretaries of State for Foreign Affairs, India, and the Colonies have already expressed their concurrence, will necessitate a corresponding alteration in the schedule to the Agreement, and 1 am to transmit herewith cop\' of the amended descriptions of the limits of the four stations, which have been prepared by the Hydrotrrapher. I have, dec, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Evan Macghegok. The Australian Station is bounded : — Vorth : Prom 95° east longitude by Che parallel of 130° south latitude to 120° east longitude ; thence north-eastward to 8° south latitude on the meridian of 130° east longitude; thence north to 2° north latitude and along that parallel to 136° east longitude ; thence north to 12° north latitude and along that parallel to 160° west longitude ; thence south to the equator ; thence east to the meridian of 149° 30' west longitude. South : By the Antarctic Circle. East: By the meridian of 149° 30' west longitude. West: By the meridian of 95° east longitude. Limits of the China Station : — North : Prom the meridian of 95° east longitude in the latitude of 10° north along this parallel to the west coast of the Malay Peninsula ; thence by the shores of Asia as far as the meridian of 180°. West: From the latitude of 10° north by the meridian of 95° east longitude to latitude 13° south. South : From the meridian of 95° east longitude by the parallel of 13° south latitude to 120° east longitude ; thence north-eastward to 8° south latitude on the meridian of 130° east longitude ; thence north to 2° north latitude and along that parallel to 136° east longitude ; thence north to 12° north latitude and along that parallel to the meridian of 180°. East : By the meridian of 180° from 12° north latitude to the point where the meridian reaches the shores of Asia. The Cape of Good Hope Station is bounded : — North: In the Indian Ocean by the equator, between the coast of Africa and the meridian of 70° east longitude and by the parallel of 10° south latitude between the meridians of 70° and 95° east longitude : in the Atlantic by the parallel of the Cunene Eiver about 17° 15' south latitude between the coast of Africa and the meridian of Greenwich, and by the parallel of 15° south latitude between the meridians of Greenwich and of 15° west longitude. East: By the meridian of 70° east longitude between the equator and the parallel of 10° south latitude and by the meridian of 95° east longitude. South : By the Antarctic Circle. West : By the meridian of 15° west longitude. The East Indies Station is bounded : — North : By the south shores of Asia (including the Persian Gulf) from an imaginary line drawn from Bas Siyan on the African coast to Cape Bab-el-Mandeb on the Arabian coast, to where the parallel of 10° north latitude touches the west coast of the Malay Peninsula. East: By the meridian of 95° east longitude, between the parallels of 10° north and 10° south latitude. South : By the parallel of 10° north latitude between the coast of the Malay Peninsula and the meridian of 95° east longitude, and by the parallel of 10° south latitude between the meridians of 70° and 95° east longitude and by the equator between the meridian of 70° east longitude and the African coast. West: By the meridian of 70° east longitude between the parallel of 10° south and the equator, and the coast of Africa from the equator to Eas Siyan.

No. 26. (No. 93.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 10t!i December, 1903. I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, the paper noted in the subjoined schedule. I have, &c, ALFRED LYTTELTON. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.