14
Licences for having a gun are given only for six months (April 1st to November 1st). The guns must be presented to the Government officials on November 1st of each year, and remain in their custody till April 1st.
8529
SIR,
No. 9.
FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.
(Received 13 March, 1913.)
[Answered by No. 12.]
Foreign Office, March 12, 1913. WITH reference to the letter from this Office of the 9th October last,* relative to the proposed International Conference for the protection of plumage birds, I am directed by Secretary Sir Edward Grey to transmit to you herewith a copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Ambassador at Paris enclosing a note from the French Minister for Foreign Affairs on the subject.
The French Government, it will be observed, declare themselves unable to modify in any way the decision come to by them in 1909 not to admit any restrictions on the trade in. feathers and bird-skins.
The question now arises as to whether the idea of an International Conference suggested by the inter-departmental committee should be proceeded with, without the participation and co-operation of the French Government, and Sir E. Grey would be glad to receive the views of Mr. Secretary Harcourt on this question from the practical standpoint.
Sir E. Grey himself is of opinion that the best means of furthering the objects which the proposed Conference would have in view would be to approach individually the Governments of those States where birds in danger of extermination breed, and endeavour to induce them to adopt some measures of preservation.
I am, &c.,
A. LAW.
15
MONSIEUR L'AMBASSADEUR :—
Paris, le 22 Février, 1913. PAR une lettre en date du 9 octobre dernier, Votre Excellence a signalé à mon prédecesseur l'intention du Gouvernement Britannique de provoquer la réunion d'une Conférence internationale en vue d'obtenir les restrictions qui pourraient être apportées au commerce des plumes pour sauvegarder des espèces qu'une exploitation intensive menace d'exterminer entièrement.
Après avoir soumis cette question à une étude approfondie mon collègue au Département du Commerce et de l'Industrie vient de me faire savoir qu'il ne croit pas devoir, à son regret, revenir sur la décision prise en 1909 par son Département et refusant d'admettre des restrictions à ce commerce spécial si important en France. D'après les renseignements recueillis par son administration, les maisons françaises appliquant intégralement les mesures édictées en vue de sauvegarder la protection des espèces et, dans ces conditions, il ne lui paraît pas possible de prendre part à la conférence projetée.
8529
No. 10.
Agréez, &c.,
JONNART.
COLONIAL OFFICE to INDIA OFFICE and BOARD OF TRADE. [Answered by No. 11.]
SIR,
Downing Street, 10 April, 1913. WITH reference to [your letter of the 7th of August last*] [the letter from this Department of the 29th of July lastt], I am directed by Mr. Secretary Harcourt to transmit to you, to be laid before the [Marquess of Crewe], [the Board of Trade], a copy of a letter from the Foreign Office transmitting a communication from the French Government with regard to the proposal for an international Conference for the protection of plumage birds.
I am to state that Mr. Harcourt would be glad to receive [his Lordship's] [the Board's] observations on the subject.
I am, &c.,
H. J. READ,
for the Under-Secretary of State.
Enclosure in No. 9.
13368
(No. 59. Commercial.)
SIR,
Paris, March 5th, 1913.
I HAVE the honour to transmit to you herewith a copy of the reply which I have received from the Minister for Foreign Affairs to the note which I addressed to him on the 9th October last in accordance with the instructions contained in your despatch,, No. 242, Commercial, of the 7th October last, inviting the French Government to co-operate in the work of a conference which His Majesty's Govern- ment desire to convoke with regard to joint action being taken to prevent the extermination of various valuable species of birds which are in danger of extinction.
Monsieur Jonnart expresses to me his regret that, after having submitted the question to the careful study of the Department concerned, the French Government are unable to alter the decision come to in 1909 not to admit any restrictions on this particular trade, which is so important to France.
His Excellency adds that the French houses apply fully the measures prescribed with a view to protecting the species in question, and in these circumstances it does not appear possible for the French Government to take part in the proposed Conference.
The Right Honourable
Sir Edward Grey, Bart., M.P.,
&c.,
&c., &c.
SIR,
No. 11.
BOARD OF TRADE to COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received 21 April, 1913.)
Board of Trade (Commercial Department),
Gwydyr House, Whitehall,
London, S. W., 19th April, 1913. WITH reference to your letter of April 10th (No. 8529),§ and its enclosures, relative to the question of protecting plumage birds, I am directed by the Board of Trade to transmit to you herewith, for Mr. Secretary Harcourt's information, copy of a letter which they have caused to be addressed to Sir E. Grey on the subject.
I have, &c.,
I have, &c.,
FRANCIS BERTIE.
SIR,
GEO. J. STANLEY.
Enclosure in No. 11.
Board of Trade (Commercial Department),
Gwydyr House, Whitehall,
London, S.W., 1st April, 1913.
I AM directed by the Board of Trade to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of March 12th, forwarding copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Ambassador at Paris and of a note from the French Government (enclosed therewith), relative to the suggested International Conference for the protection of plumage birds.
}
• No. 6.
• No. 2.
† 19812 not printed.
‡ No. 9.
§ No. 10.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
THCO. 885
23 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-