77

A—s

CHAIRMAN : Of course if it means a permanent arrangement for certain members of the staff of the Colonial Office being in the Colonies, it will mean an increase of the staff for which I should have to apply to my friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Mr. DEAKIN : That might be avoided by the proposal to send you one or two of our leading men for the time being to be employed by you in order to understand the mysteries of this department. CHAIRMAN : That is a thing which would have to be threshed out in detail, and I should not like to express an opinion upon it just now. Sir WILFRID LAURIER : This secretariat means the creation of a new department whose business it would be to deal with the self-governing Colonies or Dependencies of the Crown, or, as they are termed " Dominions beyond the sea," and I think the suggestion which has been made that the secretary or one of the staff should visit the different parts of those Dominions is an excellent one. CHAIRMAN : We have tried it, but there is one unfortunate result, and that is we lose our best men because you retain them. I think, however, this point is one which we could scarcely discuss very usefully further than this. We notice your wish and will consider it. Mr. DEAKIN : We have finished our consideration of this resolution down to the word " affairs." CHAIRMAN : I understand it is adopted down to the word " affairs." The other paragraph is : " That upon matters of importance requiring con- " sulfation in common either in this country or in the Colonies between two " or more of the governments which cannot conveniently be postponed until " the next Conference or which involve subjects of a minor character, sub- " sidiary Conferences should be held between representatives of the Colonies " and of the Mother Country especially chosen for the purpose." Ido not know that I need amplify that. It seems to me to speak for itself. Sir WILFRID LAURIER : So far as I am concerned I think this is perfect, but it is a mere matter of course, and I do not see why you should put it in. It is a matter which would always be done as a matter of course, and I do not see any advantage in putting it here. CHAIRMAN : It is only put in in order to carry out the principle of working it out as much as possible. The secretary suggests that after the word " character " we might put in "or such as require detailed consideration." For instance, the Shipping Conference we could scarcely have carried on at this Conference. Mr. DEAKIN : That is not a matter of a minor character. Sir WILFRID LAURIER : It is all quite proper, as I say, but I do not see the necessity of putting it in this form here, because it seems to me to be over-burdening a very good resolution. Mr. WINSTON CHURCUTLL : The resolution really constitutes one of the instruments of Imperial organization, and from a public point of view

Third Day. IS April 1907.

Future Constitution of the Conference.