CO129-443 - Governor Sir May - 1917 [7-9] — Page 495

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Kingdon the Dominions and India and of hearing post-war trade problema discussed and threshed out in all their various bearings.

▲ further important advantage to be gained frem such suggested procedure would be that no Colony or Protectorate, with important commercial interests, would then be able to feel that its views had been ruled out except after adequate hearing and consideration and it seems hardly necessary to point out that written representations, sent in by the different Colonies and Protectorates separately, in ignorance of the views of the Dominions and of other Crown Colonies and Protectorates are not so likely to lead to a successful solution of post-war trade problems from an Imperial point of view, as if such prodlems were threshed out in the Conference.

With regard to the second of the above two points namely, the claim of Hongkong to be represented on any Imperial Council Parliament or Association, to be formed as part of a scheme of Imperial Federation or Unity, we would respectfully urge the importance of Hongkong as a great shipping junction and as the chief depot for the distribution of goods to the Southern part of China, and generally as the centre of British influence in the Far East, and we do not doubt that, in the

oase of numerous other Crown Colonies and Protectorates, equally strong pleas could be put forward for them also to be represented on the Trade Conference and on the Imperial Council of Parliament,

moreover, on behalf of the claim of the Crown Colonies and

Protectorates generally to suon representation, we would urge that collectively they are of considerable importance to the

Empire in shipping, trade, population, area and resources.

If it be said that we are trying to establish new

precedents, we would beg leave to quote in reply the words of the

Prime Minister at the Guildhall, when he received the Freedom of

the City of London:-

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