18
5. To New Zealand only: I observe that by Section 31 of Act No. 6 of 1908 the export of certain birds is prohibited unless with the written consent of the Minister, but apparently this prohibition applies only to the birds specified in the second and third schedules of the Act, and has not been extended to those specified in the sixth schedule. Moreover, it is not clear whether the prohibition of export covers prohibition of export of the plumage and skins of the birds in question.]
I have, &c.,
L. HARCOURT.
19
not also been addressed to them, I leave it to your discretion whether they should be urged once again to reconsider their previous decision; though His Majesty's Government would welcome a reconsideration most cordially, they can hardly, after what has passed, press for it officially without some indication that a renewed application would not be resented.
I am, &c.,
RALPH PAGET,
His Excellency
The Right Honourable
Sir F. Bertie, G.C.B., G.C.M.G..
&c., &c., &c.
34510
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 885
23 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
No. 16.
FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.
(Received 4 October, 1913.)
The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs presents his compliments
to the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, and, by direction of the Secretary of State, transmits herewith copy of the undermentioned papers.
Reference to previous letter: Colonial Office, September 4 (30716/1913).* Foreign Office,
October 4, 1913.
Subject. Proposed Conference
Traffic.
On Plumage
Name and Date.
DESCRIPTION OF ENCLOSURE.
To His Majesty's Ambassador, Paris. No. 207, Commercial. October 3. To His Majesty's Minister, Athens.
No. 14, Commercial.t October 3. To His Majesty's Minister, Copenhagen.
No. 35, Commercial.† October 3. Circular despatch to His Majesty's Representatives abroad (“ A,”‡ " B.”‡ or " C," as the case may be).
October 1.
(Similar letter sent to India Office.)
(No. 207. Commercial.)
Enclosure 1 in No. 16.
SIR,
Foreign Office, October 3rd, 1913. IN Your Excellency's despatch, No. 59, Commercial, of March 5th last, you reported that the French Government were unable to enter into an International Convention, as proposed by His Majesty's Government, for prohibiting the importa- tion of the plumage and skins of wild birds.
Of all the Governments approached those of France, Greece, and Denmark alone regretted their inability to conclude an agreement on this subject. His Majesty's Government still desire an International Conference on the subject, notwithstanding the regrettable abstention of those three countries. I have accordingly instructed His Majesty's Representatives in all other countries to invite the Governments to which they are accredited to take part in an International Conference in order to draw up a Convention as set forth in the circular despatch of which a copy is enclosed herewith for your information.
I request that you will inform the French Government of the action taken by His Majesty's Governinent, and while explaining to them why an invitation has
+ Not printed similar to enclosure 1.
• Not printed.
Not printed: practically identical with "C."
SIR,
(Circular Commercial.)
Enclosure 4 in No. 16.
(C)
Foreign Office, October 1, 1913. IN 1909 His Majesty's Government invited certain countries to enter into an international agreement in order to prohibit the importation of the plumage and skins of wild birds which are in danger of extermination. Copy of the circular despatch which was sent on that occasion to His Majesty's Representatives accredited to the Governments which were to be invited is enclosed herewith for your information.
Of the Governments invited, those of Belgium, Holland, Japan, l'ortugal, Russia, Servia, Siam, Spain, Switzerland, and the United States expressed their readiness to enter into a Convention on the lines indicated. The Governments of Colombia, Egypt, Norway, Panamá, and Sweden sympathised with the objects of the proposal. The Government of Italy alleged that they had no interest in the question, whilst, of all the Governments invited to participate in a conference, those of France, Denmark, and Greece alone refused.
The Governments of Germany and Austria-Hungary suggested that the protection of plumage birds should be provided for by extending the scope of a Convention drawn up between certain States at Paris in 1902 for protecting birds useful to agriculture. His Majesty's Government have not found it necessary to accede to that Convention, for the reason that the birds therein dealt with are already sufficiently protected in the United Kingdom under existing legislation, and that they show, moreover, no signs of decreasing.
The Convention provides for the protection of specified birds useful to agricul- ture in the countries where they breed, but does not bind the Powers who are parties to it to forbid the importation of the skins, bodies, and plumage of such birds. His Majesty's Government are convinced that the only means of preventing the extermination of wild plumage birds is to forbid absolutely the importation of their plumage into the various countries where there is at present a market for them. I need hardly say that His Majesty's Government trust that in any case those Govern- ments in whose territories plumage birds breed will enforce for their protection legislation on the lines of that recommended in the Convention of 1902, but His Majesty's Government have learnt by experience that such legislation, however strict. does not in practice check the slaughter of such birds unless supplemented by laws in other countries prohibiting the importation of the plumage of birds thus illegally killed. Complete protection, for instance, is at the present time given to wild plumage birds by various legislative or executive measures in His Majesty's Oversea Dominions where such birds breed, but this local legislation is found to be insufficient to prevent the illegal slaughter and smuggling of the birds so long as the deman·l for their plumage continues unrestrained in importing countries.
In these circumstances an extension of the Convention of 1902, so as to include plumage birds, would be of little use, and after careful consideration it appears evident to His Majesty's Government that the only means of obtaining the object they desire is by way of a fresh Convention forbidding the importation of plumage of wild birds generally into as many civilised countries as possible.
In 1909 His Majesty's Government refrained from proceeding with the idea of a Convention in consequence of the reluctance of the French Government to take part : but subsequently, in January, 1910, the Marquess of Crewe, when Secretary of State
• Not printed.
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