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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 885

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

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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whatever. It is the property of the Government as soon as erected, the only interest of the Company being that we pay them a royalty, which extends over the ten years, for the use of the instruments.

The SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES: I was under the impression, I confess, that the Admiralty had a definite proposal to niake, but, under the circumstances, all that we have to ask of the Colonial Governments is that they shall not make any definito arrangements without first communicating with us.

If we are then unable to give them the lead, which Mr. Seddon very naturally asks for, they will have, of course, to act on their own discretion, but it is clear it is an entirely new arrangement, at present only insufficiently understood, and with changes, new inventions, continually being made, so that it may be a little difficult definitely to settle what necessary precautions we shall have to take, but, in the meantime, I think we cannot go further than to ask that we should have the opportunity of communicating again with the Colonies before any definite arrangement is come to.

Mr. SEDDON: What caused the urgency is this: We have practically decided that there should be communication between Honolulu and Fanning Ilands. It may be that the distance might be bridged by wireless tole- graphy being established at that distance between Fanning Island and Honoluin. To lay a cable would cost 200,000, and that might be saved or avoided. And there seems to be a decision arrived at in connection with the experiments taking place in Canada, and the Pacific Cable Board will have to deal with this matter very shortly, and that will begin as the result of the experiments taking place in Canada now with Marconi's wireless telegraph. I only wish, of course, that some decision should be come to carly so that we know where we are, because, of course, if it is satisfactory to go to Fanning Islands from Honolulu it would be satisfactory for us to establish it between Australia and New Zealand, and if so, there is an advantago in expedition and in golting to know the mind of the Admiralty on the matter. I assume that the Imperial Government, will take it for granted that we shall work in unison with them as far as we can with respect to the matter.

Mr. FIELDING: There has been already an arrangement entered into by Canada with the Marconi Company. I do not know whether it has come to the notice of the Admiralty, or is in any way objectionable. The Marconi Company have no charter in Canada, and they have no special rights whatever. It is an ordinary business arrangement, whereby we agreed to encourage them in the erection of their station. We give them about 16,000l. on condition that if the experiment proves successful we shall have a large reduction in rates for commercial purposes. That is to bo our compensation. Meanwhile they have been allowed to build the station, but they have no corporate exist- ence in Canada, and the arrangement is purely of a business character. They have no legal rights, and there will be nothing to prevent us doing what the Admiralty require us to do. They have built this station, which belongs to themselves, on our own territory, and it will have to be subject to such legis- lation as the Imperial Parliament or the Canadian Parliament deem necessary for Imperial or Canadian purposes. So I do not think there will be any difficulty in meeting all the wishes of the Admiralty in this matter.

Admiral CUSTANCE: All that the Admiralty asked for in the case of of Canada was that the Government should retain the power to obtain control in the event of war.

Mr. FIELDING: That is not touched in the agreement. It is not forbidden.. It is a natural right, which we certainly should have anyhow.

Admiral CUSTANCE: There is no intention to fetter the Canadian Government in any way, or to interfere except in the case of war, they should put in a clause that would enable you to take control of the station.

Mr. FIELDING: It was not until afterwards that we made the agreement. I do not think we received any intimation from the Colonial Office.

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Sir WILFRID LAURIER: I do not remember.

The SECRETARY OF STATE: As regards the Pacific cablo, the cable has not yet reached the Fanning Islands, so there is no immediate hurry, and as His Majesty's Government are represented on the Board, I do not see any difficulty in inserting such a clause as might be requested.

I do not

think there will be any unnecessary delay; but it is really a matter of common interest, and we shall all be anxious to determine what legislation there should be, and any precautions which may be necessary to take against danger.

the subject,

Mr. FIELDING: We have no legislation whatever on except an appropriation of money to pay the Marconi Company. Our hands are not tied in the least by any legislation.

The SECRETARY OF STATE: Then, with the consent of the Conference, I think the Conference should meet again on Friday, and we should have on all that remains to be done. Whether we shall be able to complete paper

the

it at one more sitting I do not know. I would propose, in the first instance, to deal with the question which has been postponed in connection with commercial relations. There have been some interviews, I believe, between Mr. Gerald Balfour and some of the Prime Ministers, and we shall have a report of what has been done, and wo can also consider the various draft resolutions which have been circulated.

Sir ALBERT HIME: I suppose the Secretary of State for War will also attend?

The SECRETARY OF STATE: I hope so; at all events, I will ask him for the papers.

And the First Lord of the Admiralty, too.

Adjourned till Friday, August 1st, at 11 a.m.

SEVENTH DAY.

Friday, August 1st, 1902.

PRESENT :

The Right Honourablo J. CHAMBERLAIN, M.P., His Majesty's

Secretary of State for the Colonies.

The Right Honourable Sir WILFRID LAURIER, G.C.M.G., Premier of

Canada.

The Right Honourable Sir EDMUND BARTON, G.C.M.G., Premier of

Australia.

The Right Honourable R. J. SEDDON, Premier of New Zealand.

The Honourable Thos. EKIN FULLER, for the Right Honourable Sir

J. GORDON SPRIGG, G.C.M.G., Premier of Cape Colony.

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The Right Honourable Sir ALBERT HENRY HIME, G.C.M.G., Premier of

Natal.

The Right Honourable Sir ROBERT BOND, K.C.M.G., Premier of

Newfoundland.

The EARL OF ONSLOW, G.C.M.G., Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State

for the Colonies.

Sir M. F. OMMANNEY, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., Permanent Under-Secretary of

State for the Colonies.

Sir JOHN ANDERSON, K.U.M.G., Secretary.

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