215
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 885
6
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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you should ask that the grant of the right to occupy may be exclusive, that the occupation should be in perpetuity, or, if this should be unattainable, for as long a period as possible; or, if it should be preferred, for such period only as the island may be required for cable purposes. It would be indispensable that the island and cable should be exempt from municipal taxation.
As regards the action of the Agent of the Canadian Government, your attitude as Her Majesty's Representative should be that you are instructed that Her Majesty's Government take a warm interest in the success of the enterprise and in a favourable issue of the negotiations with the Hawaiian Government.
You should, as far as you properly can without compromising Her Majesty's Govern- ment, assist the agent of the Canadian Government in arranging the terms on which the cable should be extended from the selected island to Honolulu.
You should not broach the subject of the conditional lease of an island before the arrival of the Agent of the Canadian Government.
16528.
No. 19.
am,
I &c.
H. PERCY ANDERSON.
The EARL OF ABERDEEN to the MARQUESS OF RIPON. (Received September 19, 1894.)
(No. 250.)
MY LORD,
The Citadel, Quebec, September 5, 1894.
I HAVE the bonour to transmit herewith, for your Lordship's information, copy of an approved Minute of the Privy Council submitting a summary report by the Minister of Trade and Commerce of the proceedings of the Conference of Colonial Representatives which recently met at Ottawa to consider the questions of trade relations and telegraphic communication between the Colonies.
Enclosure in No. 19.
I have, &c.
ABERDEEN.
EXTRACT from a REPORT of the COMMITTEE of the HON. THE PRIVY COUNCIL, approved by HIS EXCELLENCY on the 24th August 1894.
The Committee of the Privy Council have had under consideration the annexed report of the Minister of Trade and Commerce, dated 21st August 1894, with reference to a Conference of Colonial Representatives held in the City of Ottawa, Canada, in compliance with the formal invitation embodied in an Order in Council, dated 5th February 1894.
The Committee, concurring in the said report, advise that your Excellency be moved to forward a copy of this Minute, if approved, together with a copy of the proceedings of the Conference, to the Right Honourable the Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, and also to the Governments of the different Colonies represented at the Intercolonial Conference held in Ottawa on the 28th of June 1894 and following days.
All which is respectfully submitted for your Excellency's approval.
JOSEPH POPE,
Assistant Clerk of the Privy Council.
The Minister of Trade and Commerce has the honour to report:
1.. That on the 28th of June 1894, and following days & Conference of Colonial Representatives was held in the Office of the Minister of Trade and Commerce in the City of Ottawa, Canada, in compliance with the formal invitation embodied in an Order in Council, bearing date 5th Febuary 1894.
2. That the Conference was composed of the following duly accredited Delegates :- viz. :-The Right Hon. the Earl of Jersey, representing the Imperial Government; Hon. Mackenzie Bowell, Hon. Sir Adolphe Caron, Hon. George E. Foster and Sandford
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Fleming, Esq., C.M.G., for Canada; Hon. Nicholas Fitzgerald, for Tasmania; Hon. F B. Suttor, for New South Wales; Sir Henry de Villiers, Šir Charles Mills, and Hon. J. H. Hofmeyr, representing Cape of Good Hope; Hon. Thomas Playford, for South Australia; Alfred Lee Smith, Esq., for New Zealand; Sir Henry Wrixon, Hon. Nicholas Fitzgerald, and Hon. Simon Fraser, for Victoria; Hon. A. J. Thyane and Hon. William Forrest, for Queensland. The credentials of the Delegates having been duly presented and filed, the Conference was organised by the election of the Hon. Mackenzie Bowell, President.
3. That the Conference was called for the purpose of considering the trade relations existing between Canada and other British Colonies, and the best means of extending the same, and of securing the construction of a direct telegraphic cable between those Colonies and the Dominion of Canada.
4. That Trade relations between Great Britain and her Colonies and between the Colonies themselves was the first subject considered, and that after full discussion and mature deliberation the following resolutions were passed :-
Moved by the Hon. Mr. Suttor, seconded by Hon. Mr. Fitzgerald, and resolved :— "That this Conference is of opinion that any provisions in existing Treaties between Great Britain and any foreign Power which prevent the self-governing dependencies of the Empire from entering into agreements of commercial reciprocity with each other or with Great Britain should be removed."
*
Moved by Hon. Mr. Foster, seconded by Sir Henry Wrixon, and resolved :~-
That this Conference records its belief in the advisability of a customs arrangement between Great Britain and Her Colonies by which trade within the Empire may be placed
on a more favourable footing than that which is carried on with foreign countries.'
The resolution was adopted on the following division :—
Yeas:-Canada, Tasmania, Cape of Good Hope, South Australia, and Victoria=5. Nays-New South Wales, New Zealand, and Queensland=3.
5. The Minister desires to draw attention to the discussion in the Conference upon the principle involved in the second resolution quoted above, from which it will be learned that the representatives of New South Wales, New Zealand, and Queensland, did not object to affirming the principle of Intercolonial Trade upon the basis of differential tariffs, but did not wish to commit themselves to a resolution which affirmed the "belief in the advisability " of asking Great Britain to join in such a union, on the ground that England, being a free trade country, would not adopt such a principle, affecting as it would, in their opinion, the greater trade of the Empire.
6. At a subsequent stage of the proceedings, the following resolutions were adopted :- Moved by the Hon. Mr. Foster, seconded by Sir Henry Wrixon, and resolved,
that :-
"Whereas the stability and progress of the British Empire can be best assured by drawing continually closer the bonds that unite the Colonies with the mother country, and by the continuous growth of a practical sympathy and co-operation in all that pertains to the common welfare."
"And whereas: This co-operation and unity can in no way be more effectually promoted than by the cultivation and extension of the mutual and profitable inter- change of their products."
"
Therefore resolved: That this Conference records its belief in the advisability of a customs arrangement between Great Britain and her Colonies by which trade within the Empire may be placed on a more favourable footing than that which is carried on with foreign countries."
"Further resolved: That until the mother country can see her way to enter into a customs arrangement with her Colonies, it is desirable that, when empowered so to do, the Colonies of Great Britain, or such of them as may be disposed to accede to this view, take steps to place each other's products, in whole or in part, on a more favoured customs basis than is accorded to the like products of foreign countries."
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Moved by Hon. Mr. Hofmeyr, seconded by Sir Charles Mills, and resolved: "That for the purpose of this resolution, the South African Customs Union be considered as part of the territory capable of being brought within the scope of the contemplated trade arrangements.'
7. Referring to the resolutions moved by, the Hon. Mr. Foster and to the motion of the Hon. Mr. Hofmeyr, subsequently incorporated in those resolutions, Sir Henry de Villiers filed the following explanation of his position:
-
"Sir Henry de Villiers desires it to be noted that, as he has no authority from the Orange Free State or other parties to the South African Customs Union, he does not vote on the motion."
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