543
116
(4) prohibition of trading by enemy subjects in the Empire for a period after the War, and compulsory registration of aliens; (5) that commercial travellers or agents should be required to produce certificates of nationality of themselves and the houses they represent; (6) persons of enemy nationality to be prohibited from being engaged in banking or similar business within the Empire; (7) restricting the naturalization of aliens by rigorous requirements; and (8) the registration of trade-marks, prohibition of registration of trade-marks by persons of enemy nationality, and adoption of practice of stamping goods with the place or country
of manufacture.
HERBERT FERGUSON,
Chairman.
P. J. DEAN.
117
States. Although our exports have not been diverted from Europe, and even our imports have suffered less than might have been expected, adequate steam con- nexion with the United Kingdom is essential if the influence of North America is not to extend.
I have, &c.,
(No. 18/1662/18.)
Jos. T. DE LA MOTHE
SIR,
Enclosure 1 in No. 35.
T. A. V. BEST,
Acting Governor.
44649
No. 35.
F. H. COPLAND.
A. ÆMILIUS RICHARDS.
R. C. FITT.
C. R. FLEMING,
G. W. SMITH.
WILLIAM SLINGER.
Government House, St. Kitts,
West Indies, 11th January, 1917. WITH reference to previous correspondence terminating with Your Excel- lency's despatch No. 424/3486, of the 2nd December last, in which Your Excellency asks to be informed as to what has been done in this Presidency with regard to the recommendations of the Economic Conference of the Allies held at Paris in June last, I have the honour to inform Your Excellency that the subject was referred to the Agricultural and Commercial Society, which, at a meeting held on the 9th instant, unanimously passed the following resolution :---
That this meeting of the St. Kitts Agricultural and Commercial Society heartily approves of the recommendations of the Economic Con- ference of the Allies, and is of opinion that the British Government should take immediate steps to give colonial-grown sugar, refined and unrefined, substantial preferential treatment in the markets."
I have, &c.,
LEEWARD ISLANDS.
THE ACTING GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
(No. 239.) SIR,
(Received 8th September, 1917.)
Government House, Antigua, 13th August, 1917. In reply to your Circular despatches of the 24th October* and the 25th September, 1916,† in which you request me to furnish you with an expression of the views of my Government on the recommendations made by the Economic Conference of the Allies, I have the honour to report as follows:-
2. Your despatch of the 25th September was communicated to the Govern- ments of the different Presidencies, to members of Councils, and to commercial and agricultural societies, and I regret that the people of this Colony should have shown so little interest in a subject of such importance. I enclose copies of the communications I have received, which were of such small practical value that I have postponed my reply to your despatch until I had visited the other islands of the Colony.
3. As regards the questions referred to the Commercial and Industrial Policy Committee, the Leeward Islands produce three commodities of special value to the Empire: lime-juice, sugar, Sea Island cotton. At present these are all in great demand, but there is some natural apprehension lest the end of the War should see a return to previous neglect of West Indian products. This applies specially to sugar, but the claims of the sugar industry have already been brought to the notice of the committee. The extreme importance of maintaining and developing the production of Sea Island cotton is no doubt equally well understood: the time is not far distant when the West Indies will be the only source of supply for Sea Island cotton, and care will have to be taken to ensure that producers are not dis- couraged and that expert advice and assistance are always at their disposal. As long as high prices prevail and the invaluable services of the Imperial Department of Agriculture are continued and encouraged, there need be no fear for this industry.
4. The trade of the Leeward Islands with enemy countries has always been infinitesimal, and no special steps seem required to transfer it to friendly Powers after the War. The only serious competitor for our trade will be the United
* 45879; not printed
+ No. 1:
His Excellency
SIR,
T. A. V. Best, Esq., C.M.G..
Acting Governor of the Leeward Islands,
Antigua.
(No. 310/2174.)
Enclosure 2 in No. 35.
A. ROGER,
Acting Administrator.
Government House, Dominica, 15th December, 1916.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Your Excellency's despatch No. 355/3486, of the 2nd instant, on the subject of the Economic Conference of the Allies, and asking to be informed of what has been done in this Presidency with reference to the Secretary of State's Circular despatches on the subject.
2. In reply, I have the honour to state that publicity has been given to the Circulars under reference, and the only practical suggestions which I venture to offer, are that we impose a heavy differential duty on imports, and a tax on commercial travellers advertising enemy goods.
I have, &c.,
His Excellency
SIR,
The Acting Governor,
Antigua.
(No. 54.)
[
Enclosure 3 in No. 35.
ARTHUR MAHAFFY,
Administrator.
Antigua Agricultural and Commercial Society,
St. John's, 28th December, 1916.
On behalf of the committee I have to acknowledge your communication No. 3486/16, of 26th October, relating to measures to be taken to avoid recurrence of the dangers to which the Empire has been exposed by the growth of German trade within it.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
SPPELE
لسلسالسا
C.C
Reference :-
885/25
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO