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Mr. Reid.] Canada is a large country.

The Secretary of State.] Canada will be a very large exhibitor, and Cape Colony.

Sir Hugh Nelson.] Are you joining, Mr. Reid?

Mr. Reid] I think so. As at present advised I think I must, what do you say?

Sir E. N. C. Braddon.] I take up a position--

Mr. Reid.] Of hesitancy.

Sir E. N. C. Braddon.] I cordially assented on behalf of Tasmania to enter into exhibition generally, but I understood that the exhibition was to be an Imperial one?

Sir George Turner.] Yes.

Mr. Kingston.] Our present intention is not to join.

Sir John Forrest.] Do you join, Sir George Turner?

Sir George Turner.] Not at present.

The Secretary of State.] You agree to join, Sir John?

Sir John Forrest.] Yes.

The Secretary of State.] Newfoundland?

Sir William Whiteway.] We had determined on not joining, but if all the Colonies are going to join, I think we ought to join.

Sir John Forrest.] If one member of the Commission were to resign another could be appointed in his place; in the event of a man ceasing to be Agent-General or anything of that sort.

Sir John Bramston.] Of course that could be done, it has been done in other cases.

Sir John Forrest.] He might resign, or die, or anything of that kind. Mr. Seddon.] New South Wales has spoken through its Premier.

Mr. Reid.] No, not at all; in fact, so far as we are concerned, it will suit us to direct every effort as far as regards our policy.

The Prime Ministers of The Secretary of State.] This is how it reads: Canada, Queensland, Cape Colony, Natal, and Western Australia propose to exhibit on the French terms."

Mr. Escombe.] I ask for 48 hours.

The Secretary of State.] I put a query to you: "The Prime Ministers of Victoria, New Zealand, Tasmania, South Australia, and Newfoundland, would join if the exhibition were one of the Empire as a whole, but in the altered circumstances reserve their decision."

Mr. Kingston.] I do not say that about South Australia.

Sir William Whiteway.] I do not say that about Newfoundland. I say should like to join if there is a general consensus of opinion that we should

exhibit there.

The Secretary of State.] But that will be so, Sir William.

Sir William Whiteway.] I would not mind under those circumstances.

The Secretary of State.] If all the others I have put as reserving their decision, if they join, of course, you would join.

Sir William Whiteway.] Yes.

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The Secretary of State.] The only question is if Mr. Kingston is in a PARIS EXHIBITION separate position to them all.

Mr. Kingston.] Yes, I am in a different position; I would not undertake to

join under any circumstances.

Mr. Reid.] The words "Reserve their decision," meets your case.

Mr. Kingston.] As regards this part, I cannot agree with you.

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The Secretary of State.] I will put you down; I think this will meet your case. The prime minister of South Australia will not undertake to join in any case."

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Sir William Whiteway.] In other words, the position I take it is this. I think if the Colonies exhibit at all, they should make a strenuous effort to make as good an exhibition as possible.

Sir John Forrest.] Well, we would do that.

The Secretary of State.] Yes, but I think that is exactly what I put, because what you are pledged to do is to join the exhibition if it were one of the Empire as a whole that is to say, if all these other Colonies join, you would join; on the other hand, as at present, these Colonies are in suspense; you also are in suspense. That is how it reads.

TREATIES WITH JAPAN AND TUNIS.

Mr. Seddon, we have got the opinions of the other premiers with regard to the treaties, I would just ask you whether you adhere to your view. Most of the Australian premiers say they are not prepared to abandon their former attitude with regard to the treaty with Japan, to which they do not desire to adhere. Is that your view?

Mr. Seddon.] Yes, I am more convinced than ever to retain that position. At present, in respect to several classes of goods and raw products, of Austral- asia, there is only a difference of two per cent. between the present tariff and that proposed in the treaty,

The Secretary of State.] Then the other premiers do not desire to be included

in the treaty with France with regard to Tunis.

Mr. Seddon.] I am perfectly prepared to agree with them.

The Secretary of State.] Now I think we have dealt more or 1:8s with all

the questions I have raised, except the political question.

Sir George Turner.] There was the question of load-line, was there not? The Secretary of State.] I said more or less. As regards the question of load-line, I think I can settle that, probably, privately with the two or three Premiers who are interested. I understand that that would be possible.

Sir George Turner.] Then there is this postal matter, when the mails are to start? This is a letter sent to you by the Post Office.

Sir E. N. C. Braddon.] The date of the mail leaving Adelaide ? Sir George Turner.] The date when the mail ought to leave Adelaide.

POLITICAL RELATIONS.

The Secretary of State.] I think there are several questions which concern the Australian Premiers, and I think I might therefore possibly deal with those afterwards, and release other gentlemen who are not interested in Australian questions; but of all the questions which are general, I believe we have dealt with all, except, as I say, the question whether the premiers desire to say anything with regard to the political question, the possibility of closer political union. For myself. rather gather from what has fallen from several who have spoken, that they feel nothing beyond the interchange of views which has taken place can profitably be undertaken now, or until, at all events, the federation of Australia has taken place.

Sir Wilfrid Laurier.] That was the view which I ventured to express the other day, and as stated in your opening address, that perhaps one of the future steps would be the creation of an Imperial Council. I ventured to N 2

of 1900.

TREATIES WITH AND

JAPAN

TUNIS.

POLITICAL KELATIONS.