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recognises and affirms the need of developing for the service of the Empire a General Staff, selected from the forces of the Empire as a whole, which shall study military science in all its branches, shall collect and disseminate to the various Governments military information and intelligence, shall undertake the preparation of schemes of defence on a common principle, and, without in the least interfering in questions connected with command and administration, shall, at the request of the respective Governments, advise as to the training, education, and war organization of the military forces of the Crown in every part of the Empire. IV. Emigration. That it is desirable to encourage British emigrants to proceed to British Colonies rather than foreign countries. That the Imperial 'Government be requested to co-operate with any Colonies desiring immigrants in assisting suitable persons to emigrate. V. Judicial Appeals. The Conference agreed to the following finding :— The Resolution of the Commonwealth of Australia, " That it is desirable to establish an Imperial Court of Appeal," was submitted and fully discussed. The Resolution submitted by the Government of Cape Colony was accepted, amended as follows : — This Conference, recognising the importance to all parts of the Empire of the appellate jurisdiction of His Majesty the King in Council, desires to place upon record its opinion— (1) That in the interests of His Majesty's subjects beyond the seas it is expedient that the practice and procedure of the Right Honourable the Lords of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council be definitely laid down in the form of a code of rules and regulations. (2) That in the codification of the rules regard should be had to the necessity for the removal of anachronisms and anomalies, the possibility of the curtailment of expense, and the desirability of the establishment of courses of procedure which would minimise delays. . , , (3) That, with a view to the extension of uniform rights of appeal to all Colonial subjects of His Majesty, the various Orders in Council, instructions to Governors, charters of justice, ordinances, and proclamations upon the subject of the appellate jurisdiction of the Sovereign, should be taken into consideration for the purpose of determining the desirability of equalising the conditions which gave right of appeal to His Majesty. (4) That much uncertainty, expense, and delay would be avoided if some portion of His Majesty's prerogative to grant special leave to appeal in cases where there exists no right of appeal were exercised under definite rules and restrictions. The following Resolutions, presented to the Conference by General Botha and supported by the representatives of Cape Colony and Natal, were (1) That when a Court of Appeal has been established for any group of Colonies geographically connected, whether federated or

April 25. See p. 177.

April 26. See p. 225.

VI