A.—2

40

The United States Government have recently granted, in the case of His Majesty's consular officers, the privilege of free importation without examination of their baggage and personal effects and those of their families and suites. The Mexican Government have similarly decreed, on the basis of reciprocity, that no import duties, or any other form of tax connected therewith, will be levied by the Customs on luggage, travelling-effects for private use, and used furniture belonging to foreign consular officers on their lirxt arrival in th;- country; nor on shields, flags, seals, and office requisites, or articles transmitted to them by the Governments of their States. The Cuban Government have likewise, on a reciprocal basis, accorded the privilege of free entry and exemption from examination to the baggage and effects of consular officers, as well as to officially sealed packages addressed to them by their Governments. Customs, regalia, stationery, and other articles for their official use will also be admitted free of duty. The Lords Commissioners of the Treasury have accordingly instructed the Commissioners of Customs and Excise to accord to consular officers of these countries, on the notification of their arrival in the United Kingdom, the usual privileges conceded to an ambassador in regard to the examination of their baggage and effects and those of their families and suites. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. F. A. Campbell.

No. 62. Dominions.—Circular. Sir,— Downing Street, 27th August, 1909. I have the honour to acquaint you, for the information of your Ministers, that the Executive Committee of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund have expressed the opinion that it is desirable again to draw the attention of the British colonies and protectorates to the importance attaching to the investigation of cancer throughout the Empire on a uniform basis; the reports received during the past five years having been of the highest value in extending medical knowledge of cancer, and in bringing to light its associations with peculiar forms of chronic irritation consequent upon the practice of Native customs. 2. Great importance attaches to investigating the occurrence of cancer in widely separated geographical areas and in divergent races of mankind, in accordance with a uniform plan, and over a prolonged period of time. The valuable information already provided by the various British Administrations has attracted the attention of authorities in foreign countries, who, while not enjoying equal opportunities for such extensive investigations, unanimously emphasize their unique value. 3. The Committee desire to repeat that it is essential that wherever it is difficult to conduct a satisfactory microscopical examination of tumours, reports should be accompanied by small pieces of the tumour placed in formalin immediately after removal from the body. These, like the reports, should be forwarded to Dr. Bashford, General Superintendent, Imperial Cancer Research Fund, Savoy Street, Victoria Embankment, London, W.C. 4. Suitable tubes, packed in wooden cases and conforming with the regulations of the General Post Office, will be despatched to any Government or medical officer whenever it is probable that such a course will insure the transmission of specimens; and, when desired, reports on the nature of the tumours will be sent to the medical officers who have provided the specimens. 5. At the same time, in appraising the value of the reports of the occurrence of cancer in aboriginal races and in different parts of the Empire, microscopical examination is of the first importance, not only because of the variations of the extent to which cancer is recorded, but also because of the uncertain nature of many of the diseases common in the tropics.. 6. The Executive Committee, as stated in my predecessor's despatch of the 30th June, 1906, are fully cognisant of the difficulties with which medical officers have to contend in discovering cancer in aboriginals and in obtaining and forwarding specimens, as well as of the difficulties in the way of obtaining definite data in regard to the age of the patient and the history of tho illness. They wish, however, to point out that it is "just where the requisite evidence is difficult to obtain that it possesses most value. The total number of cases of