A.—s

618

Fifteenth Day. 14 May 1907.

relation to our common business that we so often fail to understand each other I say nothing by way of criticism of the want of knowledge here that does not apply to ourselves. I make no distinction whatever, though of course we are better informed as to your politics than you are as to ours. CHAIRMAN : The difficulty about the date is really between Canada and Australia. Ido not know how to bring them together. Mr. DEAKIN : What is the time of year when the Imperial Parliament is not sitting I CHAIRMAN : Last year it sat 10 months out of 12. It was only up in August and September. Sir WILFRID LAURIER : I am afraid there are a number of difficulties that cannot be overcome; our Parliament commences to sit in November, and sits during December and January. Mr. DEAKIN : December and January are suggested; it is a very unpleasant time to arrive, but perhaps it would be free; apparently you are engaged at that time. Sir WILFRID LAURIER : Yes, the best time would be what is summer here, June and July. Mr. DEAKIN : That is when our Parliaments are in full swing. Sir WILFRID LAURIER : You must put somebody to inconvenience whenever these Conferences are to take place CHAIRMAN : That is the difficulty. Mr. DEAKIN : Yes, and it requires to be settled. That is one of the matters which, if the new Secretariat takes it in hand, they would be much better able to deal with than we are. Although this new Secretariat is to remain under the Colonial Office, may I hope that it is to fulfil one of the functions of the Imperial Secretariat, that of being a free channel of communication between the different Dominions and the United Kingdom on any matters which may be proposed by them or proper for inquiry and investigation, instead of sending direct to each other, as of course we do now. At all events, copies of all these communications should be registered in this Secretariat, in order that we may be kept in touch with them. A number of other matters may be taken up in a tentative way, whether they are pursued or not, as to which it seems desirable for any one of the Dominions to obtain the opinions of the other Dominions or of His Majesty's Government. Such occasions might not be frequent, but if the policy of the open door prevail it ought to encourage further Imperial co-operation. I have trespassed quite enough on your patience or the patience of my colleagues, but this matter is of the gravest importance to us, and I cannot attempt to deal with it as it deserves \n these last moments of the Conference. Every increase in the harmony that obtains between us and goes to establish the thorough understanding which we desire to see maintained between His Majesty's Government and our Governments is most valuable. We get that understanding almost wholly through the Colonial Office if we get it at

Interchange of Permanent Staff. (Mr. Deakin.)