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lOth Day.] Treaties. [16 June, 1911Sir WILFRID LAURIER— cont. Resolution which was accepted the other day, as I understood, by all the Dominions here present, for my part, I am very emphatic in saying that it should be coupled, and I have no hesitation in making it as broad as possible, with three propositions. First of all I think we are all agreed in this : that the policy of the self-governing Pominions represented here should be, in their first efforts, to develop their trade as far as they can go with the Mother Country, and give every facility possible to make it closer year by year as years go on. The second proposition is that though that should be our first effort it does not follow that we should confine our efforts to the British market alone, but our second effort should be to develop our trade with other nations with which we can trade. The third proposition is that in all arrangements which may be made with other nations by the self-governing Dominions, all advantages and all benefits that are given to those other nations should be given also, not only to the Mother Country, but to all the other Dominions which comprise the British Empire. In other words, if, for instance, we make a tariff arrangement with the United States, every privilege which we give to the United States we should be prepared to give to the Mother Country and to the other Dominions. Therefore, I beg to move the Resolution which is now on the paper. Mr. FISHER : I support the Resolution. It seeks the amendment of treaties which restrict the self-governing powers of the Dominions. The difficulties in the way of doing that are present in the mind of the Government. Relief is desired as early as it is possible to secure it by negotiations with the foreign countries concerned. Sir JOSEPH WARD : I agree with the Resolution submitted by Sir Wilfrid Laurier. It appears to me that in the matter of the old treaties the opportunity should be given to the respective countries to negotiate through the Imperial Government —as I assume it would be—with a view to a better arrangement being given effect to than exists at the present time. It is not necessary for me to do more than say I concur in the proposal Sir Wilfrid Laurier has submitted. General BOTHA : I concur in the Resolution. Sir E. MORRIS : I am entirely in favour of the Resolution as put forward by Sir Wilfrid Laurier ; but I should just like to ask one question. I gather from his argument that this Resolution applies more to commercial treaties—trade treaties, really — but the Resolution suggests that negotiations be taken up with foreign Governments in relation to every treaty. Now, there are many treaties that exist to-day in relation to questions of territory and certain territorial rights, such as the marching of armies, and the like. There must be hundreds of treaties that this Resolution is not intended to affect. So I suggest a slight alteration in the Resolution, if it is considered necessary, but I take it that it refers merely to trade. Sir WILFRID LAURIER : Commercial treaties. Sir E. MORRIS : Purely commercial treaties or matters of trade. Mr. HARCOURT : Put in the words " commercial treaties." The PRESIDENT : Sir Edward Grey will say something on behalf of His Majesty's Government. Sir E. GREY : The Resolution is one which I think from the facts of the case it is clear should be accepted, because, as Sir Wilfrid Laurier has pointed out, the mere fact that for some 15 years —I take the time from him—the necessities of the case have required that in negotiating commercial treaties between the United Kingdom and other countries option should be left to the Dominions to adhere or to withdraw shows that the modern state of things which now exists in consequence of the developed separate fiscal systems of different parts of the Empire is something which is different from the old state of things when older treaties were negotiated. Therefore it is only natural that, as without exception for some 15 years, every