CO885-5 — Page 201

72

Precautions in relation to harbours

Colonial Office memorandum

328

73

Precedence of Colonial forces

Statement by the President

330

74

Retired pay of naval and military officers Correspondence

employed in the Colonies.

331

C. Summary Statements,

Submitted in regard to Colonies represented.

75

75

Newfoundland defences

Memorandum submitted by Represen-

tatives,

332

76

Canada defences

#7

Do.

Memorandum of Canadian Militia Depart- mnent submitted by Sir A. Campbell.

Despatch from the Marquis of Lansdowne

333

353

22

78

New South Wales defences

Memorandum by Sir P. Jennings

354

79

Tasmanian defences

Memorandum by Mr. Adye Douglas, and statement furnished by Comman- dant.

360

80

Cape defences

Memorandum by Sir T. Upington

367

81

Defence of Cape Peninsula

Colonial Office memorandum

370

82

South Australian defences

Despatch from the Governor

370

83

New Zealand defences

Do.

372

84

Victorian defences

Memorandum handed in by Sir James

Lorimer.

381

85

Queensland defences

Memorandum submitted by Queensland

Representatives.

386

86

Western Australia

Memorandum by Representatives

889

87

Natal

Memorandum by Mr. J. Robinson

391

88

Australasian defences

Memorandum by Sir F. Dillon Bell, and

comparative tables,

394

89

D. Extracts from Reports

of Royal Commission on Colonial Defence.

Letter from the Earl of Carnarvon,

enclosing

407

x

PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

COLONIAL CONFERENCE.

Papers laid before the Conference.

SECTION I.

General and Introductory.

No. 1.

PUBLIC RECORD

OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 885

ฟ

5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

From the SECRETARY OF STATE to the COLONIAL REPRESENTATIVES, as to the SUBJECTS FOR DISCUSSION.

(Circular.)

SIR,

Downing Street, March 19, 1887. As I understand that several of the Colonial Representatives who will be present at the approaching Conference will be obliged to leave England again at an early date, in order to be present at the assembling of their Parliaments, it will be necessary to make the best practicable arrangements for economising the time available for the despatch of business, and, as at present advised, I think that the course of procedure which I am about to communicate to you may be the most convenient.

2. I propose that the first meeting of the Conference shall assemble at the Foreign Office at 11 a.m: on Monday, the 4th of April, and that the Conference (or such sub- divisions of it as may have to consider subjects affecting particular Colonies or groups of Colonies only) shall sit during the three following days, when the Easter recess will necessitate a brief adjournment. It will probably be convenient to resume the sittings of the Conference on Friday, the 15th of April. The Prime Minister will be present at the commencement of the proceedings on the 4th of April, and on this occasion reporters for the Press will be admitted. At subsequent meetings the business to be disposed of will be for the most part either of a confidential character, or such as it will be desirable to discuss informally, and without the restraint which would be imposed by the immediate publication of the proceedings; and I trust that I may confidently rely upon the earnest co-operation of all members of the Conference in preventing premature or unauthorised communications either to the Colonies or to persons in this country. I shall at the same time take steps for supplying to the Press and to the Colonial Govern- ments from time to time brief and authentic notes of the subjects which have been under consideration.

1

3. In accordance with the intention of my predecessor, I propose to preside at the meetings of the Conference, and when I am unavoidably absent, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, the Earl of Onslow, will take my place.

4. It is my desire to arrange the business to be brought under consideration in such order as may best meet the general convenience of the Colonial Representatives; and with this object I shall be obliged by your communicating to me in writing, as soon as you can do so, the subjects which you may have been instructed by your Government, or which it may be in your own opinion desirable to bring forward.

51431.

A