89

A.—s

very direct connection with the first, I propose that we should strike out the word " and " and begin the sentence with " He." Sir WILFRID LAURIER : Yes. CHAIRMAN : There is one other point I think I ought to call the attention of the Conference to. We agreed, and I am not going hack upon the agreement, that instead of the word "Colonies" we should use the word "Dominions"; but is it sufficiently defined if we use the word " Dominions " alone throughout . After all, we, in this country are part of His Majesty's self-governing Dominions strictly speaking, and I would suggest that we might take what is really the official term " the Dominions beyond the seas "in the first place where it occurs—" the Governments of the self-governing Dominions beyond the seas," and any other reference to it in the course of the Resolution might very well be " Dominions." That would make it absolutely clear what we mean by the expression in the first place. Sir WILFRID LAURIER : Yes, I see no objection to that as far as I am concerned. CHAIRMAN : Then we will insert the words " beyond the seas " after " Dominions " in the first place. Dr. JAMESON : There is another small point. I should like to see the singular instead of the plural used in the first tw 7 o lines of the first paragraph —" A Conference to be called the Imperial Conference is held every four years," &c. I think it would make it more emphatic than the word " Conferences." It is simply substituting the singular number for the plural. Sir JOSEPH WARD : 1 think it would read very much better. Sir ROBERT BOND : I think it is a very decided improvement. I think it is far more emphatic. Sir WILFRID LAURIER : I think so too. CHAIRMAN : Then subject to those alterations we agree to the first paragraph. Sir WILFRID LAURIER : Somebody has suggested to me that instead of having " His Majesty's Government" we should have "the Governments of the United Kingdom." I suppose we are all His Majesty's Governments. CHAIRMAN : It is a technical term for His Majesty's Government here. Sir WILFRID LAURIER : Yes, it is very well understood, but suppose we said " the Government of the United Kingdom," as we all claim to be His Majesty's Governments. Mr. DEAKIN : "As between His Majesty's Government of the United " Kingdom and His Governments of the self-governing Dominions beyond " the seas." Sir WILFRID LAURIER : That would meet my views. The point was brought to my notice by a friend, but " His Majesty's Government " is such a technical expression that there can be no mistake about it. 13—A. 5.

Fourth Day. ■_>0 April 11)07.

Future Constitution of TIIF. CONFERENCE.