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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

MPITT 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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draft as 1 presented it to the Conference, and he would omit the last paragraph, namely :—

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That the Prime Ministers present at the Conference pledge themselves to ask their several Parliaments at the earliest opportunity to affirm the principles of this resolution, and to consider the steps to "be taken to give practical effect to it.”

And he would also omit the last paragraph of the preceding section, which contains the words :--

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"And that the United Kingdom should reciprocally admit on preferential terins imports from the Colonies now subject to taxation.' leaving it to the voluntury action of the Imperial Government and Parliament how far they should reciprocate the concessions which might hereafter, or may have already been made by the Dominions beyond the Seas. Well, with those two omissions, the resolution then would be exactly the same as the resolution now propssed by Mr. Fielding, except that it emphasises more than the Canadian resolution does the importance aud desirability of Free Trade between the United Kingdom and His Majesty's Dominions, and, as I understood, it was the undesirability, in the opinion of the Canadian representatives, of emphasising this, in view of the fact that Canada is a protectionist country, which led to the change of wording.

Mr. FIELDING: Not entirely, Sir. The objection was strong in another quarter.

Sir EDMUND BARTON: I had the same objection..

The SECRETARY OF STATE: The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth had the same objection. The resolution as proposed therefore by Canada, and assented to by the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth, contains the second paragraph and the third paragraph of my draft resolution almost identically, and substitutes for the obligation of the United Kingdom to reciprocato the new words:

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"The Primo Ministers of the Colonies respectfully urge on His Majesty's Government the expediency of granting in the United Kingdom."

Well, to that I can take no objection. I stated on the last occasion that I could not accept the draft as it was originally drawn, because I was unable to consult my colleagues, as they are scattered, and it would be impossible for ue to pledge the Government to a proposal of this kind without their having full time to consider it and express their opinion upon it. But in the form now proposed I see no objection to it, and I would be quite prepared to agree to the resolution, which I really think on consideration Mr. Seddon will see is exactly the same as what he proposed, with, as I say, the one exceptiou, that we omit the words "that the Conference recognises that Free Trade between "the United Kingdom and His Majesty's Dominions beyond the Seas would stimulate and facilitate mutual commercial intercourse, and would by promoting the development of the resources and industries of the several "parts, strengthen the Empire," and give unity and solidarity. I firmly believe in that statement, but I do not want to force it down the throats of those who represent countries in which there is a very strong protectionist feeling.

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Sir ALBERT HIME: Do I understand the amendment is instead of "Free Trade" in the first resolution there is substituted “ closer trade relations"?

The SECRETARY OF STATE: Yes.

Sir ALBERT HIME: Otherwise the proposal is the same as the first resolution?

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The SECRETARY OF STATE: Yes.

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Sir ALBERT HIME: Then the second resolution stands exactly as it did before?

The SECRETARY OF STATE: Yes.

Sir ALBERT HIME: In the third resolution the words are left out—

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and that the United Kingdom should grant preferential treat ment to the products and manufactures of the Colonies either by exemption from, or reduction of, duties now or hereafter imposed." That is left out altogether, and it is to be in the shapo of a fourth resolution, urging on the Imperial Government the desirability of granting preferential

treatment.

The SECRETARY OF STATE: Yes.

Sir ALBERT HIME: So far as I am concerned, Sir, of course if you accept that I will not take any exception, but I am quite prepared to agree to the omission of the clause urging on His Majesty's Government the expediency of granting in the United Kingdom preferential treatment to the products and manufactures of the Colonies, leaving it to the Imperial Government to take whatever action it may consider desirable, of its own initiative. I notice there is nothing, so far is I can see, pledging the Prime Ministers to bring the matter before their respective Governments. I would suggest that this might be inserted in perhaps miller form:---

"That the Prime Ministers present at the Conference undertake. "to submit to their respective Governments at the earliest opportunity the principle of this resolution, and to request them to adopt such measures as may be necessary to give practical effect to it.

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Then it would read. Sir, as it is there with that other resolution added. I do not think any Prime Minister would object to that, Sir, substituting Governments ” for “Parliaments." It is pledging thern to do something.

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The SECRETARY OF STATE: I think that probably the best way of coming to a decision upon this, which we can do by vote, if not by argument, would be to take the draft resolution as it has now been proposed by l'anada, and upon that it will be possible to move any amendment; the amendment suggested by the Prime Minister of Natal and the amendment suggested by Mr. Seddon, and I think the discussion had better be continued in that form. Then, Mr. Seddon, if that is 80, you would raise your first question by moving in the first line to omit the words. closer trade relations," and insert Free Trade." That would give you the first paragraph as it appeared in the original draft resolution.

Mr. SEDDON: On a point of order, Mr. Chamberlain, in the manner of conducting the business, the motion proposed before the Conference was the motion proposed by myself, upon which we have had no opportunity of voting at all.

The SECRETARY OF STATE: If you wish I will put it first.

Mr. SEIDON: Then your resolution was the next as an amendment on mine, and should take second place, and I am not, willing to take the responsibility of moving to strike words out of your motion or anybody else's, and it is not for me to move to strike out words from the resolution of the Canadian Minister.

The SECRETARY OF STATE: I will explain how I understood the matter. It is quite truc the question was originally raised on a motion put down by Mr. Seddon. After some discussion I undertook to try and bring up a draft resolution, which, as I thought, combined in a single resolution the A à 2.