80

A—s

Third Day. 18 April 1907.

Mr. DEAKIN : You do not want the whole phrase over again. It is sufficient to say " representatives of the Dominions and the Mother Country." CHAIRMAN : I was using the former words. Mr. WINSTON CHURCHILL : Representatives of the Dominions concerned i Mr. DEAKIN : That is good. Sir WILFRID LAURIER : I should like to have an opportunity of considering the wording when it is copied out. CHAIRMAN : I have no objection to that so long as it is not published. Mr. DEAKIN : I-think Sir Wilfrid Laurier is entitled to make that suggestion, but hope it will be finished to-day, and that the precis can be published which the Press did not have yesterday. Sir WILFRID LAURIER : As to this drafting of the resolution, if the wording is accepted I am quite satisfied, but before giving it to the public I should like to have further opportunity of considering it. lam not so ready to give information to the Press as Mr. Deakin seems to be. Festina lenie is a good maxim. I would like to defer this. lam not satisfied as to the words " Dominions beyond the Seas." It is a good expression, but I do not know that it is correct as it is used here, and I should like to see ft in a corrected draft. Ido not know that it may not include Trinidad as well as Australia and Canada. It is not limited, so far as I can see, to the self-governing Colonies. CHAIRMAN : That is what is meant in the first place. Sir WILFRID LAURIER : Yes. Sir JOSEPH WARD: Why not use the words "self-governing Colonies " ? Sir WILFRID LAURIER : Or " self-governing Dominions beyond the Seas " i As drafted, it seems to me it would as well apply to Trinidad or Barbados as to Canada. CHAIRMAN : 1 think we will have to introduce the words " self governing." Sir WILFRID LAURIER : I would like to use some expression which would make a differentiation between the self-governing Colonies and the other Colonies. So far as the Colonies represented here are concerned, I wish we could drop the word " Colonies " and try to invent something which would strike the imagination more. Mr. DEAKIN : Certainly; if anybody can do that it is you, Sir Wilfrid. Mr WINSTON CHURCHILL: I understand Sir Wilfrid Laurier would like to have a fair copy of the resolution to consider.

FUTURE Constitution of the Conference.