15

A.—2

No. 13. New Zealand, No. 112. My Lord,— Downing Street, 14th March, 1913. With reference to Lord Islington's despatch, No. 89, of the 13th June last, I have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that steps are being taken for the deposit on the Ist April next of the King's ratification of the International Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property concluded at Washington in 1911, the final protocol thereto, and the revised agreement respecting false indications of origin. 2. With regard to the four declarations made by the British delegates to the Washington Conference I request that you will explain tojyour Ministers that His . Majesty's Government regard the first three as being merely expressions of views which the delegates thought it desirable to place on record, and His Majesty's Government do not think there is any occasion to refer to them at the moment of ratifying, as they do not involve any modification in the text of the Convention. 3. The first of the declarations relates solely to proposals made at the Conference which were not embodied in the Convention in its final form. The second is the expression of the intention of Great Britain (an intention which is undoubtedly held by other parties to the Convention) to interpret the term " marque de fabrique " according to the spirit of the law of the United Kingdom. No doubt the Government of any adhering dominion or colony would rightly consider that they are entitled to do likewise. 4. As regards the third declaration, His Majesty's Government do not anticipate that any serious difficulty will arise at the next Conference in securing separate representation for any of the self-governing dominions. It is observed that your Government do not at present desire separate representation. 5. The fourth declaration relates to the position of Cyprus. 6. In the circumstances the desire of your Government to adhere to the Convention and revised agreement will be notified to the Swiss Government in accordance with Article XVI (bis) of the Convention and Article 5 of the agreement as soon as they have been ratified, without reference being made to the declarations of the British delegates. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor His Excellency the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, K.C.M.G., M.V.0., &c.

No. 14. New Zealand, Miscellaneous. My Lord,— . Downing Street, 20th March, 1913. With reference to Mr. Lyttelton's circular despatch of the 13th April, 1905, l I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copies of a circular despatch which has been addressed to' the Governors of the non-Responsible Government colonies and the protectorates with regard to the present position of the work of the Visual Instruction Committee of the Colonial Office. 2. I consider that the work which is now being carried on, and which has in large measure been facilitated by the assistance given by the Governments of the selfgoverning dominions and the States of Australia, is of interest and importance for educational purposes, as tending to give children in the different parts of the Empire a fuller and more accurate knowledge of the conditions prevailing in other parts of British territory. 3. I should be glad, therefore, if your Ministers will be so good as to bring the work done under the direction of the Visual Instruction Committee to the notice of the Educational authorities in the Dominion. I have, &c. 'L. HARCOURT. Governor His Excellency the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, K.C.M.G., M.V.0., &c,

A.-1, 1914, No. 4.