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F.—B

Enclosure 1 in No. 68. The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office, to the Under-Secretary of State, Foreign Office. Sir, — Colonial Office, London, S.W., 3rd February, 1908. 1 am directed by the Earl of Elgin to refer to your letter of the 30th November last [not printed] enclosing copy of a communication from Sir F. Villiers to the effect that invitations to the Lisbon Telegraph Conference had been issued through the Portuguese Consuls to the Governments of certain British Dominions and colonies, including New Zealand; and to request you to lay before Secretary Sir Edward Grey the accompanying copy of a letter which has been received from the High Commissioner for New Zealand to the effect that no invitation has been received by his Government. I am to suggest that it seems desirable that immediate inquiries should be made of the Portuguese Government. I have, Ac, H. Bertram Cox. The Under-Secretary of State, Foreign Office. Enclosure 2 in No. 68. The Under-Secretary of State, Foreign Office, to the Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, Portugal. Sir,— Foreign Office, 6th February, 1908. With reference to your semi-official letter of the 21st November last [not printed], respecting the International Telegraph Conference to be held at Lisbon, I transmit herewith a copy of a letter from the Colonial Office on the subject of representation of the Dominion of New Zealand .it the Conference. I request that you will take the first convenient opportunity of ascertaining precisely what action has been taken by the Portuguese Government as regards the issue of direct invitations to His Majesty's colonies and possessions, especially New Zealand and Australia, and that, should it still be their intention to hold the Conference in April next, you will report the result by telegraph. I have, Ac, (For Sir E. Grey), The Hon. Sir F. Villiers, K.C.M.G., C.8., Ac. Louis Mallet.

No. 69. The Right Hon. the Prime Minister to the High Commissioner. (Telegram.) Wellington, 18th February, 1908. I have approved your representing New Zealand at Lisbon International Telegraph Conference. Usual credentials follow. [Tel. 08/822.]

No. 70. The High Commissioner to the Right Hon. the Prime Minister. Westminster Chambers, 13 Victoria Street, London, S.W., 21st February, 1908. Sir, — International Telegraph Conference. Referring to my letter of the 12th instant, I beg to acknowdedge the receipt of your cablegram of the 18th instant instructing me to represent New Zealand at this Conference. I may add that the Colonial Office inform me that the Foreign Office has received the following cablegram from its Minister at Lisbon: — "International Telegraph Conference will meet on May 4th. Invitations were sent through Portuguese Consul to the Governments of Australia and New Zealand." I have, Ac, The Right Hon. the Prime Minister, Wellington. W. P. Reeves. [Tel. 08/822.]

No. 71. The Right Hon. the Prime Minister to the High Commissioner Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 12th March, 1908. Sm, — Lisbon International Telegraphic Conference, 1908. I have the honour to confirm my cable message of the 18th ultimo. I attach a warrant [not printed] of your appointment as the delegate of the Dominion of NewZealand . His Excellency the Governor has been requested to announce your appointment to the Colonial Office for the information of the Portuguese Government. I have, Ac, J. G. Ward, The High Commissioner for New Zealand, London, Prime Minister, [Tel. 08/822.] I. ■'■[ ■<

5—F. 8.