A.—4

10

" (3.) The Conference recommends to the Governments of the several Dominions that they should consider how far their existing legislation on the subject of land-settlement, soldier-settlement, and. immigration may require any modification or expansion in order to secure effective co-operation ; and should work out, for discussion with the Government of the United Kingdom, such proposals as may appear to them most practicable and best suited to their interests and circumstances." XL Empire Patent. A memorandum* pfepared in the Board of Trade on the demand for an Empire Patent was considered by a Special Committee under the chairmanship of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and the following recommendation, which was concurred in by the main Conference, was agreed to : — " The committee recommends that a conference of representatives of the Patent Offices of His Majesty's Dominions shall be held in London at an early date to consider the practicability of instituting a system of granting patents which should be valid throughout the British Empire." XII. Nationality. A memorandum")" prepared in the Home Office with reference to the nationality of children of British parents born abroad was considered by a Special Committee under the chairmanship of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and the following resolution, which was finally approved by the main Conference, was adopted : — " The committee, having considered the memorandum prepared in the Home Office regarding the nationality of the children born abroad of British parents, commends the principle of the proposals contained therein to the favourable consideration of the Governments of the Dominions and India." XIII. Condominium in the New Hebrides. The Condominium in the New Hebrides was discussed by a Special Committee under the chairmanship of the Secretary of State for the Colonies. XIV. The Proposed Conference on Constitutional Relations. Several plenary meetings and several meetings of the Prime Ministers were devoted to a consideration of the question of the proposed conference on the constitutional relations of the component parts of the Empire, and the following resolution was adopted :— " The Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom and the Dominions, having carefully considered the recommendation of the Imperial War Conference of 1917 that a special Imperial Conference should be summoned as soon as possible after the war to consider the constitutional relations of the component parts of the Empire, have reached the following conclusions : — " (a.) Continuous consultation, to which the Prime Ministers attach no less importance than the Imperial War Conference of 1917, can only be secured by a substantial improvement in the communications between the component parts of the Empire. Having regard to the constitutional developments since 1917, no advantage is to be gained by holding a constitutional Conference. " (6.) The Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom and the Dominions and the representatives of India should aim at meeting annually, or at such longer intervals as may prove feasible. " (c.) The existing practice of direct communication between the Prime Ministers of the United. Kingdom and the Dominions, as well as the right of the latter to nominate Cabinet Ministers to represent them in consultation with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, are maintained."

* The memorandum is printed as Appendix VI. f The memorandum is printed as Appendix VII.