24

A.—2

Admiralty making certain alterations in the limits of the East Indies and China Naval Stations, and notifying the new limits of the Australian Naval Station. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor His Excellency the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, K.C.M.G., M.V.0., &c.

Enclosure. Limits of Naval Stations. (Circular letter.) Admiralty, S.W., 14th April, 1913. With reference to circular letter M. 01141, of the 26th November, 1903, defining the boundaries of the Australia, China, Cape of Good Hope, and East Indies Stations, my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have decided to rearrange the limits of the East Indies and China Stations so as to include Singapore, the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, &c, within the former command. The new Australian Station allocated to the Eoyal Australian Navy is that arranged at the Imperial Conference of 1911. A small alteration is made in the dividing-line between the Cape and East Indies Stations, which does not affect any territory. The China Station extends to the north-eastern limit of the East Indies Station and the northern limit of the Australian Station. Its eastern and south-eastern limits are not defined. A memorandum and a plan indicating the revised boundaries are attached for information and guidance. The alterations are to take effect as from the Ist July next. By command of their Lordships, W. Graham Greene. Tb all Commanders-in-Chief, Captains, Commanders, and Commanding Officers of H.M. Ships and Vessels at Home and Abroad. The Gape 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 13° south latitude between the meridians of 70° and 95° east longitude. In the Atlantic, by the parallel of the Cunene River, 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. E as t. By the meridian of 70° east longitude between the Equator and the parallel of 13° 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 — On the North.—By the south shores of Asia (including the Persian Gulf) from an imaginary line drawn from the boundary landmark between the Italian and French protectorates on Ras Dumeira on the African coast to Sheikh Malu (Oyster Island), Ras Bab-el-Mandeb on the Arabian coast as far as the mouth of the Golok Ri rer (the boundary between Siam and the Federated Malay States), in approximately 6° 16' north latitude, and thence by the parallel of 6° 16' north latitude to the meridian of 104° east longitude. On the East. —By a line, drawn south-eastward from 6° 16' no th latitude on the meridian of 104° east longitude to 4° south latitude on the meridian of 110° east longitude, thence to 7° south latitude on the meridian of 120° east longitude and by the me idian of 120° east longitude to 13° south latitude. On the South.—By the parallel of 13° south latitude between the meridians of 120° and 70° east longitude and by the Equator between the meridian of 70° east longitude and the African coast. On the West. —By the meridian of 70° east longitude between the pa allel of 13° outh latitude and the Equator and by the coast of Africa from the Equator to the boundary landmark between the Italian and French protectorates on Ras Dumeira on the African coast. The China Station is bounded — On the North. —By the coast of Asia from the mouth of the Golok River in approximately 6° 16' north latitude, on the east side of the Malay Peninsula. On the South and West. —From the mouth of the Golok River by the parallel of 6° 16' north latitude to the meridian of 104° east longitude, thence by a line drawn south-eastwards to 4° south latitude on the meridian of 110° east longitude, thence to 7° south latitude on the meridian of 120° east longitude, thence south to 11° south latitude, thence to the boundary with Dutch New Guinea in about longitude 1.41° east, thence along the coast of British New Guinea to the boundary with German New Guinea in 8° south latitude, thence east to 155° eas longitude, On the East, —The boundary is left undefined,