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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 885

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

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The principles affirmed in the foregoing series of resolutions are :--

(a.) That all existing Treaties between Great Britain and any foreign Power which prevent self-governing dependencies of the Empire from entering into more favoured trade relations with Great Britain and each other should be abrogated.

(b.) That Customs arrangements between Great Britain and her Colonies should be such as to give a preference to the mother country in the markets of the Colonies, and to the Colonies in the markets of Great Britain.

(c.) That the stability of the Empire can be best secured by the adoption of a policy which would lead to the cultivation and extension of a mutual and profitable interchange of products.

(d.) That this could best be accomplished by a customs arrangement between Great Britain and her Colonies, by which advantages would be secured in the markets of either not granted to foreign Powers.

(e.) That until the mother country is prepared to enter into such an arrangement, all impediments in the way of the Colonies adopting reciprocal arrangements with each other should be repealed.

(f.) That the South African Customs Union be included within the scope

trade arrangements.

of such

any

These different propositions are of such an important character as to warrant the Minister in asking for them, on the part of the Imperial authorities, the most earnest and careful consideration, with a view to the giving effect to them at the earliest possible moment, so as to conduce to the greater and fuller development of trade between England and her outlying dependencies, and between the Colonies themselves.

8. That the question of cable communication between the different Colonies of the Empire, exclusively upon British territory, having been considered, the following resolu- tions were moved and adopted.

"

Moved by Hon. F. B. Suttor, seconded by Sir Henry Wrixon :-

That, in the opinion of this Conference, immediate steps should be taken to provide telegraphic communication by cable, free from foreign control, between the Dominion of Canada and Australasia.'

Moved by the Hon. Mr. Foster, seconded by the Hon. Mr. Fitzgerald. Resolved:~ "That, in view of the desirability of having a choice of routes for a cable connection between Canada and Australasia, the Home Government be requested to take immediate steps to secure neutral ground on some one of the Hawaiian Islands, in order that the cable may remain permanently under British control."

The Hon. Mr. Playford desired to be excused from voting upon the question of cable connection between Canada and Australia on the ground that South Australia had already made large investments in telegraphic connection by cables between England and that Colony, and therefore was not interested in the proposed new cable line to the extent of the other Colonies, and for other reasons explained in a speech recorded in the proceedings of the Conference.

Moved by the Hon. Mr. Foster, seconded by Sir Henry Wrixon, and resolved :— "That the Imperial Government be respectfully requested to undertake at the earliest possible moment, and to prosecute with all possible speed, a thorough survey of the proposed cable route between Canada and Australia; the expense to be borne in equal proportions by Great Britain, Canada, and the Australasian Colonies."

Moved by Sir Charles Mills, seconded by Sir Henry de Villiers, and resolved :--- "That it is for the the interest of the Empire, that, in case of the construction of a cable between Canada and Australasia, such cable should be extended from Australasia to the Cape of Good Hope; and that for that purpose arrangements should be made between the Imperial and South African Governments for a survey of the latter route.”

Moved by Hon. Mr. Thynne, seconded by Sir Henry Wrizon, and resolved :— "That the Canadian Government be requested, after the rising of this Conference, to make all necessary inquiries, and generally to take such steps as may be expedient, in order to ascertain the cost of the proposed Pacific Cable, and promote the establishment of the undertaking in accordance with the views expressed in this Conference."

The foregoing resolutions bearing directly on the establishment of a Pacific cable were passed unanimously, and affirm the principles:

(a.) That immediate steps should be taken to provide telegraphic connexion by cable,

free from foreign control, between the Dominion of Canada and Australasia. (6.) That the Imperial Government be respectfully requested to undertake at the earliest possible moment and to prosecute with all possible vigour a thorough survey, the expeuse to be borne in equal proportions by Great Britain, Canada, and the Australasian Colonies.

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(c.) That in the interest of the Empire any cable between Canada and Australasia,

should be extended to the Cape of Good Hope.

(d.) That, in case it should be found advisable to adopt a route vid the Hawaiian Íslands, the British Government should be moved to take immediate steps to secure neutral landing grounds upon some of the said islands.

(e.) That the Canadian Government should take steps to ascertain the cost of

construction of a cable between Canada and Australia.

The Minister desires to call special attention to the resolution in which the Home Government is "requested to take immediate steps to secure neutral landing grounds on "some one of the Hawaiian Islands in order that the cable may," should that route be adopted, "remain permanently under British control," and respectfully suggests, in view of the desirability of action being taken at the earliest possible moment, that the Home Government be requested to send a Special Commissioner or Commissioners to Hawaii for the purpose of securing by negotiation some one of the islands in that group upon which a cable could be landed. The Minister ventures the opinion that such a course would prove more effective in securing the concession desired than any other which might be adopted.

9. The Minister desires further to draw attention to the hope expressed by the Conference that the Imperial authorities will undertake and complete without delay all necessary surveys of the proposed cable route between Canada and Australasia, upon the terms set forth in the resolution passed upon that subject.

10. A fast and efficient mail service between England and Australia via Canada being considered of such vital importance to the success of any scheme having for its ultimate object the widest possible interchange of commodities between the Colonies and the full and complete unity of the Empire, the members of the Conference, after much deliberation, embodied their views in the following resolutions to the importance of which the Ministers ask the earnest and favourable consideration of the Imperial Government.

Moved by Sir Adolphe Caron, seconded by Hon. F. B. Suttor:-

(a.) "That this Conference expresses its cordial approval of the successful efforts put forward by Canada and New South Wales for the establishment of a regular monthly steamship service between Vancouver and Sydney, and affirms the advisability of the reasonable co-operation of all the Colonies interested in securing the improvement and permanence of the same."

(b.)

(c.)

"That the Conference learns with interest of the steps now being taken by Canada to secure a first-class fast mail and passenger service, with all the modern appliances for the storage and carrying of perishable goods, across the Atlantic to Great Britain, and the large subsidy which she has offered to procure its establishment."

"That it regards such an uninterrupted through-line of swift and superior communication between Australasia and Great Britian as is above contemplated as of paramount importance to the development of intercolonial trade and communica- tion, and to the unity and stability of the Empire, as a whole.”

(d) "That as the Imperial Post Office contributes towards the rost of the mail service between England and Australia, vid Brindisi or Naples, the sum of 95,000%. per annum, while the sea postage amounts only to 3,000l.; and to the mail service between Vancouver and Japan and China 45,000l. less 7,3007, charged against the Admiralty, this Conference deems it but reasonable to respectfully ask that assistance be given by the Imperial Government to the proposed fast Atlantic and Pacific service; more particularly as the British Post Office, whilst paying the large subsidy of 104,2311. a year to the line from Liverpool to New York, has 80 far rendered no assistance in the maintenance of a direct postal line between Great Britain and Canada."

11. That the following resolution relating to Bankruptcy and Winding up of Companies" was, on motion of Sir Henry Wrixon, seconded by Hon. Mr. Fitzgerald, unanimously passed:

"That this Conference desires to call the continued attention of their respective Governments to the proceedings of the Colonial Conference of 1887 in regard to the Bankruptcy and Winding up of Companies with a view to completing the necessary legislation upon the question therein raised."

12. That with a view to the bringing of the proceedings of the Conference and the decisions at which the Delegates arrived upon the various and important subjects C

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