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29118.

No. 12.

The SECRETARY OF STATE to the GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF CANADA.

(No. 303.) MY LORD,

[Copy to Board of Trade, August 24, 1905, L.F.]

Downing Street,

August 24, 1905. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 250 of the 31st ultimo, regarding the establishment of preferential trade relations between the Dominion and the Commonwealth of Australia, and to state, for the information of your Ministers, that a copy of the minute of the Privy Council, together with the Customs Tariff enclosed therein, has been forwarded, as desired, to the Governor-General of Australia.

29118.

No. 13.

I have, &c.,

ALFRED LYTTELTON.

The SECRETARY OF STATE to the GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF AUSTRALIA.

(No. 155.) MY LORD,

[Copy to Board of Trade, August 24, 1905, L.F.]

[Answered by No. 14.]

Downing Street,

August 24, 1905.

I HAVE the honour to forward, for the consideration of your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a despatch from the Governor-General of Canada, enclosing, for transmission to your Government, a copy of a Minute of the Privy Council of Canada regarding the establishment of preferential trade relations between the Dominion and the Commonwealth.

45889.

No. 14.

I have, &c.,

ALFRED LYTTELTON.

The GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF AUSTRALIA to the SECRETARY OF STATE.

(Received December 30, 1905.)

[Copy to Board of Trade, January 22, 1906, L.F.] [Answered by No. 17.]

(No. 273.) SIR,

Governor-General's Office, Mcibotine, November 28, 1905.

REFERRING to your despatch No. 155, dated 24th August 1905,† for- warding, for the consideration of my Ministers, a copy of a despatch from the Governor-General of Canada, enclosing for transmission a copy of a minute of the Privy Council of Canada regarding the establishment of preferential trade relations between the Dominion and the Commonwealth, I have the honour to inform you that I duly submitted your despatch to my Ministers for consideration.

• No. 11.

↑ No. 18.

you

will

2. I now beg to enclose a copy of a despatch which has been addressed to me by my Prime Minister, in reply thereto; and shall be glad if be good enough to forward the same for the consideration of the Government of Canada.

have, &c.,

NORTHCOTE,

Governor-General.

Enclosure in No. 14.

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.

(P.M. 05/4522.)

Prime Minister, Melbourne, MY LORD,

November 27, 1905. WITH reference to the despatch of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, No. 155, dated 24th August, forwarding a communication from the Governor-General of Canada regarding the establishment of preferential trade relations between the Dominion and the Commonwealth, I have the honour to inform your Excellency that the subject has received the careful attention of the Government.

2. The officers of the Department of Trade and Customs advise that it would be very difficult, without some preliminary understanding, to frame a schedule of preferential tariff rates, owing to the restricted nature of the trade between Australia and Canada. In view of this fact it would appear advisable that advantage should be taken of the alternative course suggested in Lord Grey's despatch, and that an endeavour should be made to arrange for a conference between delegates representing the two Governments.

3. This Government has now the pleasure of expressing its willingness to consider any proposal for such a conference. So far, no date has yet been fixed for the holding of the next Colonial Conference in London. It is possible that by the time your Excellency's communication on this subject reaches Canada, the Imperial authorities may have intimated their inten- tions regarding such Conference. If so, I shall be pleased to learn whether, in the view of Lord Grey's Ministers, that occasion would afford a suitable opportunity for the discussion of the principles on which any scheme of preference should be based.

4. It may be that a more convenient course would be for the Canadian Government to first submit for the consideration of this Government a memorandum setting out-

(a) what articles of Canadian produce or manufacture they desire to be

favoured on admission to Australia; and

(b) similar articles from Australia to which they are prepared to give a

preference, and to what extent.

5. If that suggestion finds acceptance I shall be pleased if your Excellency will state that such a communication will receive the fullest consideration of this Government, who are anxious to facilitate any move- ment which will promote the commerce .of Canada and Australia, and which will therefore tend to bring the Commonwealth and the Dominion into closer relations.

6. May I ask that your Excellency will forward the purport of this communication to Mr. Lyttelton for communication to the Governor-General of Canada?

I have, &c.,

His Excellency the Governor-General.

ALFRED DEAKIN.

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