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reinforcement of the force in Egypt from Australia or New Zealand for the protection of the Suez Canal, the maintenance of the free navigation of which is a vital interest of these Dominions.
V. TREATMEnt of Neutral and ENEMY MERCHANT-SHIPS IN TIME OF War.
25. It was decided at the 108th meeting of the Committee of Imperial Defence on the 26th January, 1911, that copies of the Report of Lord Hardinge's Sub-Com- mittee on the treatment of neutral and enemy merchant-ships in time of war should be given to the representatives of the Dominions so that it might be possible to discuss the subject at the Committee of Imperial Defence during the forthcoming Imperial Conference.
26. As it is essential, in order to give full effect to the policy explained in that Report, that similar treatment should be accorded to enemy and neutral shipping by all parts of the Empire, it is highly desirable that the concurrence of the Dominions in the Report should be obtained.
27. In view of the secret nature of certain portions of the Report which contain a discussion of the considerations affecting the decision whether differential treatment should be applied to certain foreign Powers, it is thought inexpedient to communicate complete copies of the Report to the Governments of the Dominions, in view of the embarrassment that would be caused to us if such portions of the Report were to obtain publicity. The Secretary of the Committee of Imperial Defence, acting on the instructions of the Sub-Committee, has prepared a memorandum (C I.D. Paper No. 124 B) containing the conclusions of the Lord Hardinge's Committee, and an explanation in general terms of the reasons which led that Committee to recommend the course of action proposed. No reference has been made to the considerations pointing to differential treatment of individual Powers. The action proposed to be taken by the several Departments of His Majesty's Government and the action that would be taken by the Governments of the Dominions if they concur in the Report has been clearly set forth.
28. The original intention of the Sub-Committee was that the Secretary's Memorandum should be handed to the representatives of the Dominions as soon as they arrived in this country. As a result, however, of a discussion which arose during the consideration of paragraph 3 of the Memorandum as to the international status of the Dominions in the event of a war in which the United Kingdom is engaged, the Sub-Committee now hesitate to recommend this procedure. They accordingly submit the whole question, which is set forth in detail in other papers (C.I.D. Paper No. 70 C) for the consideration of the Committee of Imperial Defence.
VI.-REPRESENTATION OF THE DOMINIONS ON THE COMMITTEE OF IMPERIAL DEFENCE.
29. The Government of New Zealand propose to bring forward a resolution— "That the High Commissioners should be invited to attend meetings of the "Council of Defence when questions on naval and military defence
affecting oversea Dominions are under discussion."
"
30. At the Colonial Conference of 1907, in consequence of a proposal put forward by the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia that the Dominions should he represented on the Committee of Imperial Defence, the representatives of the Dominions were informed, at the instance of the Prime Minister, that the Committee of Imperial Defence is intended to provide the means of discussing questions of a general or local character relating to defence. It would therefore be open to the Government of any self-governing Dominion to submit these questions through the Colonial Office and to obtain such advice as the Committee is able to give.
If so desired, any representative of a Dominion which may wish for advice would be summoned to attend as a member of the Committee during the discussion of the questions raised.
* Committee of Imperial Defence is intended.
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