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SECRET.
I.
NOTE BY THE SECRETARY.
OWING to the recent abolition of the use of the words "Colony " and "Colonial in reference to the self-governing Dominions, the present title of the Colonial Defence Committee has become inappropriate for a body to which questions of defence affecting not only the Crown Colonies, but also the Dominions, Protectorates, and the defended ports of India are referred for consideration.
2. The Prime Minister has accordingly approved of the title of Colonial Defence Committee being changed to "Overseas Sub-Committee of the Committee of Imperial Defence," which may for convenience be abbreviated to "Overseas Defence Com- mittee.'
"
3. The new title not only more accurately describes the duties and functions of the Committee than its present title, but also, by emphasising the intimacy of its association with the Committee of Imperial Defence, removes the risk of misconcep- tions arising in the Dominions and Colonies as to the relative status of the Committee of Imperial Defence and its subordinate Committee.
4. The occasion of the change of title of the Colonial Defence Committee appears to afford a convenient opportunity for revising and consolidating the Regulations governing its functions and procedure. The regulations of the Colonial Defence Committee are now contained in the Memorandum, dated the 21st January, 1893, entitled "Regulations of the Colonial Defence Committee," and the Minutes of the 1st and 63rd meetings of the Committee of Imperial Defence, dated respectively the 18th December, 1902, and the 23rd February, 1905.
5. The annexed Memorandum defining the constitution, functions, and procedure of the Overseas Sub-Committee of the Committee of Imperial Defence is accordingly submitted for the approval of the Committee of Imperial Defence.
6. Except for changes of nomenclature, the Memorandum merely restates the constitution, functions, and procedure of the Committee as at present laid down and practised.
[529]
C. L. O.
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