Admiralty Order in Council No. 67

7th March 1904.

N.

Whereas we have had under consideration the Regulations which at present govern the study of Foreign Languages by Officers of Your Majesty's Naval Service, and the employment of Officers qualified as Interpreters in Foreign Languages :

And whereas we are of opinion that further steps should be taken to encourage the acquisition of a knowledge of Foreign Language by Naval Officers :

We beg leave humbly to recommend that Your Majesty may be graciously pleased by Your Order in Council to authorise us to revise the Regulations as affecting Officers of both Your Majesty's Navy and Royal Marines in the following manner: —

1. The number of Officers allowed at our discretion to study abroad on full pay at any one time to be increased to twenty. Officers of the ranks specified in Clause 4 to be eligible for this privilege of residence abroad on full pay.

The full pay to be granted without any condition as to subsequent qualification in the language, and the period for which it may be granted to count as "Service." No allowances in addition to full pay to be granted.

2. The period during which study abroad on full pay may be allowed to be regulated according to the language studied, as shown in the annexed Schedule.
3. Gratuities to be payable on qualification in the various languages specified according to the scale given in the Schedule, a distinction being drawn between Officers who qualify in the Higher Standard and those who qualify in the Lower Standard. The gratuities to be paid to Officers only after qualifying in the manner to be laid down in the Regulations.
4. All Officers of and below the actual or relative rank of Commander to be eligible for qualification and appointment as Interpreter (either Higher or Lower Standard). Officers of the rank of Captain to be eligible to qualify in the Lower Standard, but not for appointment as Interpreter.
5. The allowances of Officers appointed hereafter as Interpreter with the Higher or Lower Standard of qualification to be regulated according to language or qualification in the manner shown in the Schedule.
6. Officers on the list of Interpreters to re-qualify as we may direct, and prior to re-examination to be allowed at our discretion full pay during study abroad for a period not exceeding one month. The period for which full pay is thus granted to count as " Service," but no gratuity or other allowance to be payable in respect of such re-qualification.
7. Officers qualified for the instruction in Foreign Languages of Junior Officers on board Your Majesty's ships to receive five shillings for each lesson (of one hour's duration), the number of lessons for which payment is made to any individual instructor not to exceed four a week.

The Lords Commissioners of Your Majesty's Treasury have signified their concurrence in these proposals.

Schedule.

N. 3573 / 1904.

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