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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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different opinions which had been expressed, and I thought that under those circumstances, Mr. Seddon's resolution had dropped, and that my motion had taken its place. Then Canada took exception to the form of my resolution, and I thought it was understood by the Conference that the Prime Ministers should meet separately and endeavour to frame another and third resolution, which would combine the opinions of all present. That was the resolution which was brought up by Canada on the last occasion. That 1 took exception to saying that, although I accepted the resolution as a matter of course, and put the resolution as expressing the opinions of Prime Ministers, I could not put it as expressing the opinions of His Majesty's Government, and now the latest form which the resolution has taken is intended by Canada to meet the objection of mine, so that is the reason why I take the latest form as being the one upon which the discussion had better be continued.

Mr. SEDDON: I bow to your ruling, Sir. I still consider that yours was an amendment to my resolution. My own was the original resolution. I find it on record that said it was not for me, who practically agreed to your resolution, to meet with the other Prime Ministers, but it was for those Prime Ministers who disagreed to see how far they could go. Therefore, I think Natal and the Cape and myself agreed to the resolution with a slight modifiention. We find ourselves now in the position of having to move amendments on the last suggestion from Canada, the last suggestion that comes from Australia and Canada. That is the position.

The SECRETARY OF STATE: The amendments are extremely slight, Mr..Seddon, you will find.

Mr. FULLER: I would just like to say that I think Mr. Seddon would be wise to drop the reference to Free Trade, for the sake of unanimity. Personally I am entirely in accord with his view, but I know it would be fatal to submit a resolution to the Cape Parliament, which assuredly looked in the direction of Free Trade, because if the Government of the Cape were to adopt Free Trade with Eugland, it would practically mean the abolition of the Customs tariff, or tantamount to it, because very little would then come from foreign countries. I think, therefore, it would be wise to drop that phrase. I am quite sure, in our Parliament, it would be fatal to any resolution, if they felt it was a step towards the introduction of practically Free Trade, however much that might be elesirable. Therefore, I think it would be desirable to drop that reference to Free Trade, and if the amended resolution is acceptable to the Government, to take that, and then to add the amendment, which I beg to support, of Sir Albert Hime, pledging the Prime Ministers to call the attention of the Governments of the respective Colonies to the resolution.

Mr. SEDDON: Then I understand the Colonial Secretary to state that he will accept this resolution of Canada?

The SECRETARY OF STATE: I accept it, yes.

Mr. SEDDON: You accept it in preference to mine. Then practically unanimous, I should think.

we are

The SECRETARY OF STATE: Then it is moved as follows. Before putting it, I must take the addition which is proposed by-

Mr. SEDDON: I will ask for leave to withdraw my motion.

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The SECRETARY OF STATE: Mr.Seddon's motion is by leave with- drawn.

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Mr. FIELDING: Read Sir Albert Hime's amendment.

The SECRETARY OF STATE: Sir Albert lime's addition is as follows:

"That the Prime Ministers present at the Conference undertake "to submit to their respective Governments at the carliest opportunity

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the principle of the resolution, and 10 request them to take suchi measures as may be necessary to give practical effect to it."

Mr. FIELDING: We have no objection to that.

The SECRETARY OF STATE: I do not think there can be any objection to that.

Sir EDMUND BARTON: Somebody may say it is "closor trade rela- tions," and it may produce a dozen ambiguities.

The SECRETARY OF STATE: Perhaps I had bettor road the whole resolution as it stands :-

"1. That this Conference recognises that the principle of preferen- "tial trade between the United Kingdom and His Majesty's Dominious beyond the Seas would stimulate and facilitato mutual commercial intercourse, and would, by promoting the development of the resources and industries of the several parts, strengthen the Empire.

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2. That this Conference recognises that, in the prescut circum- "stances of the Colonios, it is not practicable to adopt a general systein "of Free Trade as between the Mother Country and the British

Dominions beyond the Seas?

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* 3. That with a view, however, to promoting the increase of trado within the Empire, it is desirable that those Colonies which have not already adopted such a policy should, as far as their circumstances permit, give substantial preferontial treatment to the products and "manufactures of the United Kingdom.

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4. That the Prime Ministers of the Colonies respectfully urge on is Majesty's Government the expediency of granting in the United Kingdoin preferential treatment to the products and manufactures of the Colonies either by exemption from or reduction "of duties now or hereafter imposed.

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

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Mr. FIELDING: It will be understood that we in Canada have already done that, but we have no objection to it being inserted.

Sir WILFRID LAURIER: That the Prime Ministers who have not already done it should undertake to do it, because we have already done so.

Mr. FULLER: I think, Sir, as it stands, it would be better.

The SECRETARY OF STATE: I think we had botter leave the principle of the resolution.

Mr. SEDDON: I have an amendment I wish to take a division on, to add after the words "the Colonies," to insert the words in the last paragraph- the third paragraph of the original motion as I suggested it. I desired to give preference to gooda carried in British-owned ships. If the resolution as

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