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COLONIAL CONFERENCE, 1907.

Minutes of Proceedings of the Colonial Conference, 1907.

first Day. 15 April 11107

FIRST DAY.

Held at the Colonial Office, Downing Street, Monday, 15th April, 1907. The following Members of the Conference were present:—The Secretary of Stale for the Colonies (the Right Hon. the Earl of Elgin, K.G.) in the chair; the Prime Minister of Canada (the Right Hon. Sir Wilfrid Laurier, G.C.M.G.); the Prime Minister of Australia (the Hon. Alfred Deakin); the Prime Minister of New Zealand (the Hon. Sir J. G. Ward, K.C.M.G.); the Prime Minister of Cape Colony (the Hon. L. S. Jameson, C.8.); the Prime Minister of Natal (the Hon. R. E. Moor); and the Prime Minister of the Transvaal (General the Hon. Louis Botha). The following Colonial Ministers were present:—The Hon. Sir F. W. Borden, K.C.M.G. (Canada); the Hon. Sir W. Lyne, K.C.M.G. (Australia); and the Hon. Dr. Smartt (Cape Colony). The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (the Right Hon. Sir H Campbell- Bannerman, G.C.8.) was present, together with the following Members of His Majesty's Government :—The" Right Hon. John Morley, 0.M.; the Right Hon." R. B. Haldane, K.C.; the Right Hon. Lord Tweedmouth; the Right Hon. John Burns; and the Right Hon. D. LloydGeorge. There were also present Mr. Winston Churchill, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies: Sir Francis Hopwood, X.C.8., the Permanent Under-Secretarv of State for the Colonies; Sir J. L. Mackay, G.C.M.G., K.C.1.E., on behalf of the India Office; the Assistant UnderSecretaries of State for the Colonies; the Secretaries to the Conference; the Private Secretaries to the Secretary of State for the Colonies and to the Colonial representatives. CHAIRMAN : Gentlemen, the Members of the Conference having all assembled, with the exception of Sir Robert Bond, who is detained for a day or two, I assume that we may now proceed to business. Before doing so, I have the honour to read the following telegram which has been received from His Majesty the King : " At the first meeting to-day of the Colonial Conference, T wish you to convey to the Prime Ministers and representatives "of my self - governing Colonies, a warm welcome on my behalf, and to

The following Members of the Conference were present: —The Secretary of State tor (he Colonies (the Right lion, the Earl of Elgin, K.G.) in the chair; the Prime Minister of Canada (the Right Hon. Sir Wilfrid Laurier, G.C.M.G.); the Prime Minister of Australia (the Hon. Alfred Deakin); the Prime Minister of New Zealand (the Hon. Sir J. G. Ward, K.C.M.G.); the Prime Minister of (ape Colony (the Hon. L. S. Jameson, C.8.); the Prime Minister of Natal (the Hon. R F. Moor); and the Prime Minister of the Transvaal (General the Hon. Louis Botha). The following Colonial Ministers were present:—The Hon. Sir F. W. Borden, K.C.M.G. (Canada); the Hon. Sir W. Lyne, K.C.M.G. (Australia); and the Hon. Dr. Smartt (Cape Colony). The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (the Right Hon. Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman, G.C.8.) was present, together with the following Members of His Majesty's Government : —The" Right Hon. John Morley, 0.M.; the Right Hon." R. B. Haldane, K.C.; the Right Hon. Lord Tweedmouth; the Right Hon. John Burns; and the Right Hon. D. LloydGeorge. There were also present Mr. Winston Churchill, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies: Sir Francis Hopwood, X.C.8., the Permanent Under-Secretarv of State for the Colonies; Sir J. L. Mackay, G.C.M.G., K.C.I E., on behalf of the India Office; the Assistant UnderSecretaries of State for the Colonies; the Secretaries to the Conference; the Private Secretaries to the Secretary of State for the Colonies and to the Colonial representatives.

CHAIRMAN : Gentlemen, the Members of the Conference having all assembled, with the exception of Sir Robert Bond, who is detained for a day or two, I assume that we may now proceed to business. Before doing so, I have the honour to read the following telegram which has been received from His Majesty the King : "At the first meeting to-day of the Colonial Con- " ference, T wish you to convey to the Prime Ministers and representatives "of my self-governing Colonies, a warm welcome on my behalf, and to