A.—2,

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2. It will be observed that the regulations previously in force have been modified in order to allow of permission being granted in certain circumstances for the wearing of decorations and medals conferred in recognition of Red Cross services. I have, &c, A. BONAR LAW. Governor His Excellency the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, G.C.M.G., M.V.0., &c.

Enclosure. A.—Regulations respecting Foreign Orders and Medals applicable to Persons in rut: Service of the Crown. Orders. I. It is the King's wish that no subject of His Majesty in the service of the Crown shall accept and wear the insignia of any foreign order without, having previously obtained His Majesty's permission to do so, signified either (a) by Warrant under the Royal Sign-manual, or (6) byprivate permission eouveyed through His Majesty's Private Secretary. 2. Permission given by Warrant under the Royal Sign-manual will enable the insignia of the foreign order to be worn at all times and without any restriction. Private permission will only enable the insignia to be worn on the occasions specified in the terms of the letter from the King's Private Secretary conveying the Royal sanction. "J. Full and unrestricted permission by Warrant under the Royal Sign-manual is contemplated in the following cases : For a decoration conferred —On an officer in His Majesty's Naval or Military Forces lent, to a foreign Government* on an'officer in His Majesty's Naval or Military Forces attached by his Government to a foreign navy or army during hostilities; or on any British official lent to a. foreign Government and not in receipt of any emoluments from British public funds during the period of such loan. In the case of decorations awarded in recognition of services under the Red Cross, permission will only be granted where such services have been rendered in a war in which the Empire has itself been engaged, and by persons serving under one of the officially recognized British voluntary aid societies or under similar societies of Allied States duly recognized by the Governments of those States. 4. Private or restricted permission is contemplated for decorations which have been conferred in recognition of personal attention to the head of a foreign State, and which are therefore of a more or less complimentary character, and will, as a rule, only be given on exceptional occasions when in the public interest and for political reasons it is deemed expedient that the acceptance of a foreign decoration should not be declined. Private permission will generally be given in the following cases : For a decoration conferred — (1.) On British Ambassadors or Ministers abroad when the King pays a State visit to the country to which they are accredited. (Note. —A State visit is defined as ,j. one on which the King is accompanied by a Minister or a high official in attendance.) (2.) On members of deputations of British regiments to foreign heads of States. (3.) On members of special missions when the King is represented at a foreign coronation, wedding, or funeral; or on any diplomatic representative when specially accredited to represent His Majesty on such occasions, and such members of his staff who actually attend the ceremonies in their official capacity. (4.) On Naval and Military attaches only after completion of five years' service at the post to which they are appointed in that capacity. 5. Private or restricted permission will not be given to— (1.) British Ambassadors or Ministers abroad when leaving. (2.) Members of British missions announcing the accession of a Sovereign. (3.) British officers attending foreign manoeuvres. (4.) Naval officers of British squadrons visiting foreign waters. 6. The desire of the head of a foreign State to confer upon a British subject in the service of the Crown the insignia of an order must be notified to His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs either through the British diplomatic representative accredited to the head of the foreign State, or through his diplomatic representative at the Court of St. James. 7. When His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs shall have taken the King's pleasure on any such application, and shall have obtained His Majesty's permission for the person in whose favour it has been made to wear the insignia of a foreign order, he shall signify the same to His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Home Department, in order that he may cause a Warrant, if it be a case for the issue of a Warrant as defined in Rule 2, to be prepared for the Royal Sign-manual. When such Warrant shall have been signed by the King, a notification thereof shall be inserted in the Gazette stating the service for which the foreign order has been conferred. Persons in whose favour such Warrants are issued will be required to pay to His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Home Department a stamp duty of 10s.