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withdraw altogether. the proposals 1 submitted to him in Conference with reference to the Imperial Reserve. That will leave it to the Secretary of State for War if he thinks it advisable later on to enter into negotiations with the New Zealand Government, apart altogether from the Conference, That is a way out of the difficulty and the only way that I see.
Sir EDMUND BARTON: Does that apply to both military and naval ?
Mr. SEDDON : The withdrawal does not apply to the Australian Squadron. As far as the Australian Squadron is concerned I am still of the opinion. I have mentioned that if everything else failed, I was quito prepared to meet that situation by adopting the same course. But there is an existing agreement and that partnership, of course, cannot be closed by me or by the partners, unless after a consultation with my colleagues, so that I propose to continue that with respect to the Imperial Reserve; it has led to a situation which to me was unexpected; however, I sco no other way out of the difficulty, With respect to the Imperial stamp, charges on Colonial bonds. we have had no opportunity of discussing that beyond the resolution. I believe there was a notice of motion proposed by the Commonwealth Government, and I would have liked myself to have had an opinion upon that because it is 12s. 6d. per cont, upon every loan we raise in the Mother Country. That seems to mo a very heavy impost when the money has to be used for the development of the Empire. The Merchant Shipping Act question has been withdrawn. That was to have been proposed by Sir Gordon Sprigg. I am putting this to clear up our proceedings-to show what has become of these questions. I only mention those things for the information of the Conferonce.
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Empire. No means I think' have been left untried to gratify us. have we personally been welcomed, but the parts of the Empire to which we belong are looked upon with affection and with great amity by the people of the United Kingdom. This esteem wo feel in our hearts, and for it we are very grateful. I do hope and believe that the resolutions of this Conference will only be the means of greater success in bringing about the closer union to which I think notwithstanding all our difficulties all of us look forward with loving expectation.
Sir WILFRID LAURIER put the resolution to the Conference, and it was adopted by acclamation.
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The SECRETARY OF STATE: On behalf of my colleaguos and myself, and so far as I may venture to do so on behalf of the people of this country. thank you very much for the way in which you have recognised the welcome which we have all so readily given to you. It is, I am sure, a great pleasure to all of us to receive you here, and it is to me a great pride to be selected to preside over your important Conferences. I have no doubt many outside, who know nothing of our difficulties, will be disappointed with the results which we have achieved. I could have wished that these results could have been greater, but I am satisfied so long as they are results which mark a distinct advance, which show that in our proceedings we are on the lines of development which we have marked out, and that we are reaching nearer and nearer with every successive Conference to Imperial Unity, as to which in spirit at least we are eutiroly agreed. I think that what we have done will prove useful to this end, and I am quito sure at all events that the feeling which has been manifested throughout these Conferences, shared as I believe it to be by all those who are represented here, must tend to draw tighter those tios to which we continue to attach so much importance.
The Conference, then concluded.
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VOTE OF THANKS.
Sir WILFRID LAURIER: I desire to submit the following resolution :—
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"The Members of this Conference representing the self-governing Colonics desire before they separato, to convey to Mr. Chamberlain their warm and sincere appreciation of the manner in which he has presided over their deliberations, as well as of the many courtesies which they have received from him; they desire also to put on record the deep sense of gratitude which they feel for the gonerous hospitality which has been extended to them by the Government and people of the United Kingdom."
This is only a feeble expression, but it expresses the feeling which I am sure all entertain towards Mr. Chamberlain personally for the manner in which ho has conducted the discussions at this Board, and the good will with which he has received all the suggestions brought forward for discussion by the representatives of the various Governments, and it is also a recognition of the unbounded hospitality which has been extended to us by everyone with whom we have been brought into contact.
Mr. SEDDON: Might I suggest adding to that, “the Secretary of State for War and the First Lord of the Admiralty."
Sir EDMUND BARTON: "And His Majesty's Ministers." I would desire to second this resolution. I am sure we personally and the various parts of the Empire to which we belong are very highly honoured by the way in which the representatives have been treated. I am quite aware that whoever comes to represent the various self-governing Colonies will be treated in precisely the same way, so we cannot say anything as to the personal aspect of the matter, except to express the satisfaction that it gives us as representa- tive Colonists to know what is the kind of feeling entertained by the Mother Country towards the other parts of the Empire. There is no way in which our visit could have been made more enjoyable or in which its objects could have been better facilitated so far as they appertain to the closer cohesion of the
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