CO885-(21-23) — Page 619

།། ༄། །

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 885

23 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

4

The extent of the damage which would be done to the trade of this country by legislation prohibiting the importation of plumage may be a matter of doubt, but it seems to us to be beyond dispute that some damage will be done.

A certain amount of labour

will be displaced, and we cannot feel so sanguine as the supporters of prohibition that this labour will readily be absorbed in other occupations. At the best, the merchants who carry on the trade will be deprived of their business. We readily admit that this consideration should be ignored if it were certain that the result of legislation would be to end or even materially to diminish the traffic in feathers and thus to put a stop to the slaughter of birds for the sake of their plumage, but we feel that this result is not only not certain, but is not even probable.

The evidence which we have received shows that the London market is mainly an "entrepôt,"

a very large percentage of the plumage sold there being shipped abroad immediately without being in any way worked up. This being so, it seems obvious that, if the London market were closed, plumage would in future be sent direct to the Continental markets which are now supplied through London: the centre of the trade would be shifted, probably to Paris, but the trade would continue. The prohibition of import would no doubt practically put an end to the demand in this country-not entirely, for numbers of ladies would buy feathered hats in Paris if they could not get them in England, and also there would doubtless be considerable smuggling of feathers through the post-but it is by no means clear that this reduction of the demand would decrease to any material extent the number of birds killed. It is at least as probable that the larger supplies available for the Continent would reduce prices there, and that reduced prices would lead to an increased demand, and thus to greater slaughter of birds.

In short, if Great Britain legislates alone, the damage to trade is certain, the benefit to bird-life problematical.

Further, if by such legislation we cause the centre of the trade to be transferred to some other country or countries we shall make the prospects of international action in future more remote. New interests will be built up and pressure will be exerted on foreign Governments which will make them less ready to agree to measures in which they might at some future time be willing to concur if the centre of the trade were in England. Our view is therefore that, if an international agreement cannot be secured now, we should wait until other nations are willing to co-operate with us, and should meanwhile take no action beyond continuing our efforts to secure by local laws the protection of the birds found in territories administered or controlled by Great Britain.

H: J. READ. R. E. STUBBS.

3

copy of the Report of the Inter-Departmental Conference on the destruction of plumage birds, and to enclose, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, a copy of a letter addressed to the Foreign Office on the subject.

SIR,

I have, &c.,

Enclosure in No. 2.

LIONEL ABRAHAMS.

India Office, Whitehall, 7th August, 1912. WITH reference to the letter from the Colonial Office to your address, No. 19812, dated the 29th July last, enclosing a copy of the Report of the Inter- Departmental Conference on the destruction of plumage birds, I am directed by the Secretary of State for India in Council to forward, for the information of the Secre- tary of State for Foreign Affairs, a copy of a letter addressed to the Colonial Office on the 27th September, 1910, regarding the attitude of the Government of India towards this question, and to say that the Marquess of Crewe concurs with Mr. Secretary Harcourt in recommending the suggestions of the Inter-Departmental Conference to Sir E. Grey's favourable consideration.

I have, &c.,

The Under-Secretary of State, Foreign Office.

25140

SIR,

No. 3.

LIONEL ABRAHAMS.

Enclosure.

RESOLUTION.

The International Ornithological Congress, representing the Ornithological Science of all countries, pronounces it to be an absolute necessity that measures be taken forthwith for the protection of birds, especially those which are persecuted for millinery purposes.

The different Governments will have to decide about the special rules and laws which should be passed to gain this object.

The officers of the Congress are asked to take the necessary steps to bring about an international understanding, determining the best methods to adopt to protect all' birds,. especially those which are persecuted for their feathers, or in an irrational way.

24891

SIR,

No. 2.

INDIA OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.

(Received 7 August, 1912.)

India Office, Whitehall, London, S.W.,

7th August, 1912.

I AM directed by the Secretary of State for India in Council to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. Lambert's letter, No. 19812, dated the 29th July,* forwarding a

• Not printed.

FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received 10 August, 1912.)

[Answered by No. 4.]

Foreign Office, August 9th, 1912. I AM directed by Secretary Sir E. Grey to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, 19812/1912, of the 29th ultimo,† enclosing the Report of the Inter-Depart mental Conference appointed to enquire into the destruction of plumage birds.

I am to state that, at the instance of the Home Office, various countries were approached in 1909 in order to ascertain their attitude towards participation in an international conference for the purpose of restricting the traffic in the plumage of wild birds. A copy of the circular on the subject which was addressed to His Majesty's Representatives abroad is enclosed herewith.

The Swiss, Servian, Siamese, Belgian, Spanish, Japanese, Russian, United States, Portuguese, Netherlands, and Austro-Hungarian Governments all expressed their willingness to take part in such a conference.

The Panaman, Egyptian, Swedish, and Norwegian Governments sympathised with the proposal, but raised objections as regards the legislation which would have to be introduced in order to enforce the provisions of any convention which might be signed.

The Italian, Colombian, Danish, German, Greek, and French Governments, on the other hand, refused altogether to take part in a conference, the French Govern- ment alleging that they could not consent to prohibit an industry which gives employment in France to more than 50,000 persons.

As a result of the findings of the Inter-departmental Conference which has now reported, Sir E. Grey is prepared, subject to the concurrence of the various Depart- ments concerned, to take steps once again to convene, if possible, an international conference to deal with this question.

As, however, the larger part of the trade in plumage is centred in Paris, it is important to obtain the concurrence of the French Government in the first instance. In these circumstances, Sir E. Grey would propose to approach the French Govern- ment before inviting the other Governments concerned.

If an unfavourable reply is received, it will be a matter for consideration whether the project of a conference should be proceeded with without the co-opera- tion of the French Government and in opposition to their views.

↑ Not printed.

• 29790: not printed.