A.—s

VIII. Commercial Relations and British Shipping. That it is advisable, in the interests both of the United Kingdom and His Majesty's Dominions beyond the seas, that efforts in favour of British manufactured goods and British shipping should be supported as far as is practicable. IX. Preferential Trade. [The following Resolution was agreed to by the members of the Conference, with the exception of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, who was absent, and whose vote was not recorded, of General Botha, who did not support it, and of the representatives of His Majesty's Government, who dissented.] That while affirming the Resolution of 1902, this Conference is of opinion that, as the British Government, through the South African Customs Union—which comprise* Basutoland and the Bechuanaland Protectoratedo at present allow a preference against foreign countries to the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and all other British Possessions granting reciprocity, His Majesty's Government should now take into consideration the possibility of granting a like preference to all portions of the Empire on the present dutiable articles in the British tariff. X Navigation Laws and Coastwise Trade. [The following Resolution was agreed to by the members of the ('(inference, with the exception of His Majesty's Government, who dissented, in respect of the inclusion of the words dealing with trade between the Mother < ntmtry and the Colonies] That the Resolution of the Conference of 1902, which was in the followingterms, be reaffirmed : — "That it is desirable that the attention of the Governments of the Colonies and the United Kingdom should be called to the present state of the Navigation Laws in the Empire, and in other countries, and to the advisability of refusing the privileges of coastwise trade, including trade between the Mother Country and its Colonies and possessions, and between one Colony or possession and another, to countries in which the corresponding trade is confined to ships of their own nationality, and also to the laws affecting shipping, with a view of seeing whetherany other steps should be taken to promote Imperial trade in British vessels." XL Treaty Obligations. That the Imperial Government be requested to prepare, for the information of Colonial Governments, statements showing the privileges conferred and the obligations imposed on the Colonies by existing commercial treaties, and that inquiries be instituted to ascertain how far it is possible to make those obligations and benefits uniform throughout the Empire. XII. Preferential Trade Arrangements and Treaty Questions. That all doubts should be removed as to the right of the self-governing Dependencies to make reciprocal and preferential fiscal agreements with each other and with the United Kingdom, and further, that such right should not be fettered by Imperial treaties or conventions without their concurrence,

May 7. See p. 434.

May 7. 8u p. 440.

May 8. Set p. 468.

May 8. See p. 468.

May 8. See p. 4SJ.

VIII