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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
لسلسانيا
Reference :-
C.O. 885
6
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY, WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
The Secretary of State.] No.
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Mr. Reid.] It is considered to be a personal nomination.
Sir George Turner.] I suppose a Commissioner may resign at any time and another be appointed?
Sir Wilfrid Laurier.] Certainly.
The Secretary of State.] Then there is a matter which I have much pleasure in informing the gentlemen present of, and that is that the Queen has expressed her intention and wish to present to all the Colonial troops a medal-all the Colonial troops who are in this country-and she has, I believe, commissioned His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales to make the presentation in person. He proposes to do this on Saturday, the 3rd July, There was some little difficulty, because originally the troops were fixed to leave on a particular date. As to the troops from Canada, however, I observe on their behalf an application has been made that they may stay a little longer, and I have arranged with Lord Lansdowne, and I have also to state that I have arranged this with Lord Lansdowne that all the troops-it will be possible for any, or for all, who desire to stay, to stay for another week.
If there are any who might be intending to leave before the 3rd, I hope it will be possible for them to stay over, so as to receive from the Prince of Wales this medal.
Mr. Seddon.] Has the place for the presentation been fixed ?
The Secretary of State.] The place is Buckingham Palace, I believe. Sir John Bramston.] Buckingham Palace.
Mr. Seddon.] And the time?
The Secretary of State.] The time is half-past three, I believe.
Sir John Bramston.] The time is three o'clock on Saturday afternoon.
The Secretary of State.] On Saturday at three.
Sir H. M. Nelson.] With reference to the Colonial troops, the original intention was that they were not to take part in the naval review on Saturday;
has that matter been settled ?
not
The Secretary of State.] Yes; I should like to say that I have arranged that, but I think that there was some misunderstanding. I have explained to Mr. Seddon and Sir Wilfrid Laurier that there certainly was the slightest idea of in any way putting aside, or forgetting, or ignoring the claims of the Colonial troops, quite the contrary. The whole object of the arrangement was to give them a better opportunity of seeing the ships and of inspecting them than they could possibly have on what is simply a formal occasion, the naval review. In regard to the Premiers who are here in a specially representative capacity, they form part of the pageant, in the same sense in which they did the other day, and we could not excuse them, them any other opportunity; it is necessary, in fact, or offer to that you should be a part of those who go through the lines; and in regard to the troops, where there is no necessity for that, we thought it would be much more comfortable, and give much more time, to take them to see the dockyard and ships; therefore that was the original arrangement. However, as feeling has been expressed on the subject, arrangements have now been made to take 800 of them, which is the largest number possible in a ship specially appropriated for their accommodation, and I believe a double arrangement is made so that those who like will have a second opportunity of visiting the fleet on the day originally proposed, so that they will see more
of us in the matter.
than
any
Mr. Seddon.] I think Mr. Goschen explained that in the House of Commons. The Secretary of State.] I daresay; I did not hear him; I saw him last night and I believe the thing is absolutely settled now, and I think satis- factorily. I have only now to thank you very much for your attendance and the kindly way in which you have met together to consider in the true spirit
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the future relations between the mother land and yourselves, and I certainly trust that our future deliberations may be productive of real and practical result.
Mr. Reid.] Shall we fix the day for the other meeting?
The Secretary of State.] I am thinking.
Mr. Reid.] We can manage to meet so as to concur in that day.
Sir Wilfrid Laurier.] That would be the best way, I think.
Mr. Reid.] I think so, and then we will know when the next meeting will be.
The Secretary of State.] What would you think of the 28th, next Monday; is that too early?
Mr. Reid.] At what time ?
The Secretary of State.] It would have to be in the morning, because the Queen's garden party is in the afternoon.
Mr. Reid.] We have a luncheon engagement at one.
The Secretary of State.] That does not allow us much time.
Mr. Reid.] We thought of meeting a little earlier. What is the earliest time at which we could meet ?
The Secretary of State.] Will you say the 30th, Wednesday?
Mr. Reid.] Perhaps you will allow us to look over our engagements. I suppose it is very likely that any morning will suit your convenience?
The Secretary of State.] I am sorry to say I have a Committee of the House of Commons, but at the same time I will meet your convenience.
Sir Wilfrid Laurier.] Say Monday at half-past ten; that gives us two
hours.
ten.
The Secretary of State.] Then we will say Monday the 28th, at half-past
I have one more request to make, gentlemen. I do not think that such
a gathering as this has ever been held before in this country. I want to have such a record of it as photography will afford. Now I have to ask whether you will come down on the steps and be photographed together.
Adjourned till Monday next, at Half-past Ten o'clock.
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