No.
DOWNING STREET,
25th November, 1886.
गय
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
C.O. 885/5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
MY LORD,
SIR,
You will no doubt have remarked that in the Queen's Speech on the prorogation of Parliament, Her Majesty was pleased to refer to Her Colonial and Indian Possessions in the following terms :- "I have observed with much satisfaction the interest which, in an "increasing degree, is evinced by the people of this country in the "welfare of their Colonial and Indian fellow subjects; and I am led "to the conviction that there is on all sides a growing desire to draw "closer in every practicable way the bonds which unite the various "portions of the Empire. I have authorised communications to be "entered into with the principal Colonial Governments with a view "to the fuller consideration of matters of common interest."
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2. The communications thus promised with the Colonies have engaged the careful consideration of Her Majesty's Government, and they have come to the conclusion that the Queen should be advised to summon a Conference, to meet in London in the early part of next year, at which representatives of the principal Colonial Governments will be invited to attend for the discussion of those questions which appear more particularly to demand attention at the present time. I request you to inform your Ministers of this proposal, which I am confident will be very satisfactory to them, and to express the hope which I entertain of their cordial co-operation.
3. In the opinion of Her Majesty's Government, the question which is at once urgent and capable of useful consideration at the present time is that of organisation for military defence. The patriotic action of the Colonies in offering contingents of troops to take part in the Egyptian campaign made a deep and lasting impression on the public mind, and was the first practical result of much careful work during recent years. It is a necessity of the case that the measures which have been taken in each Colony, as well for the organisation of the local forces as for the construction of local defensive works, are, to a great extent, not yet fully understood and appreciated in other parts of the Empire. The close and thorough examination of the whole subject of Imperial Defence, which was completed by the Royal Commission presided over by the Earl of Carnarvon, has led to the execution of extensive and important defensive works in various parts of the Empire; and the cordial co-operation offered to Her Majesty's Government by the Colonies
(200 11 86-H & 8 2259)
1.