A—s

224

Seventh Pay. 26 April 1907.

Mr. DEAKIN : I do not know 7 whether I should enlist Sir Wilfrid Laurier's support to an amendment of this first resolution by which it would read " That the Conference recommends to the consideration of His Majesty's " Government the establishment of an Imperial Court of Appeal." Sir WTLFRID LAURIER: Do you mean we should pass the resolution ' It seems 1o me not particularly compatible. Mr. DEAKIN: The first resolution would then lie reduced to an aspiration. Sir WILFRID LAURIER: I have no objection to an Imperial Court of Appeal. Ido not care what name you call it; whether it is the House of Lords, or the Judicial (Committee, or any other body, it matters not very much. For my part I prefer Dr. Jameson's resolution. The LORD CHANCELLOR : Do you include General Botha's addition ? Sir WILFRID LAP PIER : I have no objection to that, It is not a matter which concerns this Conference, but concerns the three Colonies there represented. Dr. JAMESON : If you and other members in the Conference agree, it will help us a good deal in getting this machinery, which the Lord ('hancellor has foreshadowed as necessary, carried out. Sir WILFRID I.A 1 RIER : With all my heart. You are far away, and you want to have a Court of Appeal for South Africa which should lie final in most cases, and from which alone there can be an appeal to the Privy Council. Dr. JAMESON : That is exactly it. Sir WILFRID LAURIER : I quite agree with that. Sir JOSEPH WARD : I favour that very cordially too. The LORD CHANCELLOR : I think everyone agrees in regard to the resolution of Cape Colony, and General Botha's additional resolution. If the resolution as to the Imperial Court of Appeal were accepted, of course it would be the committal of the United Kingdom to a variation which, as I have said, they certainly have not considered, and which I think we ought not to agree to. Mr. DEAKTN : Have you any objection to our asking you to consider it if we alter it in that way, " that the Conference recommends to the considera- " tion of His Majesty's Government the establishment of an Imperial Court " of Appeal." CHAIRMAN : His- Majesty's Government are represented in the Colonies.

Imperial Corral op Appeal.