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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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C.O.885

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Sir D. MORRIS and Sir S. STOCKMAN, who were appointed to act on the Sub- Committee, were unable to be present.

1. The Sub-Committee was summoned to consider what action should be taken to bring the Imperial Bureau of Entomology into relation with the International Institute of Agriculture at Rome, with special reference to the forthcoming Inter- national Commission which the Institute proposes to establish for acquiring and disseminating information regarding insect and fungoid diseases of plants. memorandum on the present position of this question was laid before the Sub-Com- mittee (copy annexed).

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2. Sir D. Prain explained that probably the main question before the Institute at Rome would be whether or not the Powers which supported it should be asked to authorise the extension of the scope of its work so as to embrace investigation and Mr. Rogers research as well as the collection and dissemination of information.

pointed out that there was every reason to believe that financially the Institute was in difficulties, and he anticipated that it would ask for an increase in the contributions from the Governments which supported it, and that an attempt would be made to economise in many directions. In that event. Mr. Marshall thought that all idea of seeking the affiliation of the Bureau to the Institute, as suggested by Dr. Gordon Hewitt, should be abandoned, at any rate until the Committee were satisfied that the Institute was established on a sound financial basis. Mr. Rogers went further than this: he maintained that there could be no question of affiliation under any cireumstances, because the Institute consisted of a federation of Governments, which sent a representative or representatives to act on their behalf, and that it was impossible for a body such as the Bureau to be affiliated with an international body such as the Institute. The Sub-Committee concurred in this view. It was remarked that the fact of there being financial difficulties made it the more likely that the Institute would co operate with the Bureau, as this co-operation would relieve the Institute of part of its work and so enable it to effect an economy in its expenditure.

3. The further suggestion made by Dr. Hewitt, that, while co operating with the Commission, the Bureau should devote itself especially to the investigation of the insect pests of the British Empire, did not entirely commend itself to the Sub-Com- mittee. All the members of the Sub Committee were agreed that every effort should be made to act in friendly co operation with the Institute and to dispel the idea which undoubtedly existed in certain quarters that the Bureau was in any way But it would not be feasible to limit the scope of the antagonistic to the Institute. Bureau's work to the insects of the British Empire: one of the most important features of the Bureau, on which emphasis had been laid by the Canadian Govern- ment, was that it should not confine itself to the dissemination of information as to insects in the British Empire, but that it must obtain and distribute information as to the insects of the whole world. Unless the Bureau waited to be approached by the Institute, the best course of action appeared to be for the Bureau, while pro- ceeding along the lines already laid down and consolidating its own position, to offer to furnish the Institute at fixed intervals, either through the medium of its Review or in any other convenient way, with a summary of the information collected as to insects in the British Empire: this summary could then be translated into French by the Institute and incorporated in the official publication. In this way the Burean would afford no little assistance to the Institute and all unnecessary duplication of labour would be prevented.

4. The question of having a representative of the Committee on the Inter- Mr. Rogers observed that all the national Commission was next considered. members of the Commission would, so far as he could see, be the official representa- tives of the different Governments which gave their support to the Institute, that questions only of administration would be dealt witli, and that there would probably be no expert

members. The Sub Committee were of the 'dpinion that it would be desirable for the Committee to be represented, in order that the scope and work of the Bureau could be explained and 'all idea of antagonism definitely removed : their representative, however, could not go on the same terms as the official represen- tatives of this country or of any of the Colonial Governments, but he could be attached as assessor to the British delegates. The Sub Committee considered that if their suggestions were followed out, Mr. Marshall should act as the representative of the Committee. Mr. Read agreed to an official letter being sent to the Foreign Office explaining the position of affairs and recommending that arrangements should be made for the British delegates to be accompanied by a representative of the Com- mittee which was responsible for the management of the Bureau.

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5. Dr. Shipley added that if Dr. Hewitt should be selected by his Government as their representative on the Commission at Rome, it would be advisable for him to discuss beforehand with the Committee (or the Sub-Committee) the line to be taken by the British representatives in regard to the co-operation of the Bureau with the Institute, and that, if there were no opportunity for such a meeting, he should at least confer with Mr. Marshall on the subject in Rome. Had time permitted, it would have been desirable to communicate in advance also with the delegates of any other British Colonies which might be represented, but this was hardly possible, and in the circumstances, the best course would be for the Committee's representative to endeavour to get into touch with the delegates of other Colonial Governments on arrival in Rome, so that the delegates both from this country and from British Dominions or Colonies might be in a position to adopt a common policy as regards the relation between the Bureau and the Institute. It was further agreed that an opportunity should be found for discussing the whole matter with Sir Thomas Elliott, late Permanent Secretary to the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, if, as was understood, he would be one of the British delegates.

Annexure to No. 122.

MEMORANDUM AS TO THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE NEW IMPERIAL BUreau of ENTOMOLOGY AND THE INTErnational InsTITUTE OF Ågriculture at Rome. This question was raised by Dr. Gordon Hewitt at the conference held at the Colonial Office on the 12th of August last to discuss the scheme for Imperial co-opera- tion in preventing the spread and furthering the investigation of noxious insect pests. Dr. Hewitt stated that in his opinion the scope of the enquiry must be international, and that it would therefore be necessary to consider carefully what the relations of the Bureau would be to the Institute which proposed to set up a Commission in May, 1913, to investigate insect and fungoid diseases. He said that by the time the Commission had been set up, the scheme for an Imperial Bureau would most pro- bably be an accomplished fact and that it could not be allowed to drop out of existence. Separate action certainly would not be advisable, as the Bureau would be dependent on other countries for their co-operation; he suggested, therefore, that the Bureau might be affiliated with the International Commission, but while co-ope- rating with the Commission it could devote itself especially to the investigation of the insect pests of the British Empire. It might also be possible for the governing body of the new Bureau to be represented on the International Commission.

Dr. Shipley expressed the opinion at a later stage of the conference that if the Commission should be appointed in May, 1913, the Committee might ask to be represented on the Commission, so that they could explain the precise nature of the work which they intended to take up and to prevent any overlapping or duplication. Since the conference no further consideration has been given to this matter; but now that the Colonial Governments have definitely accepted the proposals for the forma- tion of the Bureau, the question should receive immediate attention..

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(No. 16.)

SIR,

No. 123. TRINIDAD.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 4 February, 1913.)

Governor to Secretary of State.

Government House, 9th January, 1913. REFERRING to the correspondence* noted in the margin, I have the honour to report that the Crown Agents for the Secretary of State to Governor. Miscel Colonies were requested by last mail to pay laneous. 12 July, 1912.

No. 330.

to the Entomological Research Committee the sum of fifty pounds, being the contri- Miscel-bution by this Colony to the Committee for the year 1912 1913, in support of the scheme for co-operation between the Com- mittee and the West Indian Colonies.

12 August, 1912.

Secretary of State to Governor. laneous. 19 November, 1912.

Secretary of State to Governor. laneous. 21 November, 1912.

30949

Miscel

Nos. 47, 61, 81, and 31849; L.P. forwarding copy of [Cd, 6429].

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