| Description | Written from Treasury Chambers
The Lords Commissioners of the Treasury had considered the letter sent them by the two societies in which application was made to make a grant for the purpose of ensuring the safety of the Antarctic Expedition by the despatch of a relief vessel. After careful consideration of the difficulties the two Societies find themselves, and in view of the necessity of providing for the safety of the Officers and men of the Royal Navy who were allowed to volunteer for service on the Expedition, the Government has offered to take over the whole responsibility for the further relief expedition on condition that the existing relief ship, the "Morning", now in New Zealand, is handed over absolutely and at once to the Board of Admiralty who will control the relief operations on behalf of the Government. An immediate reply is requested, so that if the offer is accepted, no time may be lost in making immediate arrangements for the rescue of the Expedition.
The Lord Commissioners do not desire to reflect in any way on the conduct of the financial arrangements of the original Expedition by the two Societies, and trust that the Finance Committe will continue to administer the remaining funds (which are considered to be adequate) for the purposes of the "Discovery" as distinguished from the relief expedition of which, subject to investigation, they are ready to assume the whole responsibility and expense as from the date of this letter. |