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No. 11. " The SECRETARY OF STATE to the GOVERNOR-GENERAL AND GOVERNORS.* (Sent 6 p.m., 30th April, 1909.) Telegram [Answered by Nos. 16, 17, 21, 25, and 32.] The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, as President of the Imperial Conference, has desired me to ask you to convey the following message to the Prime Minister of [the Commonwealth of Australia] [the Dominion of [New Zealand] [Cape Colony] [Newfoundland].] " It will, no doubt, be within your knowledge that on the 29th March the Canadian House of Commons passed a Resolution to the following effect: — "Resolution begins: That this House fully recognises the duty of the people of Canada as they increase in numbers and wealth to assume in larger measure the responsibilities of National Defence. " The House is of opinion that, under the present constitutional relations between the Mother Country and the self-governing Dominions, the payment of regular and periodical contributions to the Imperial Treasury for naval and military purposes would not, so far as' Canada is concerned, be the most satisfactory solution of the question of defence. " The House will cordially approve of any necessary expenditure designed to promote the speedy organization of a Canadian Naval Service in co-operation with, and in close relation to, the Imperial Navy along the lines suggested by the Admiralty at the last Imperial Conference, and in full sympathy with the view that the Naval Supremacy of Britain is essential to the security of commerce, the safety of the Empire, and the peace of the world. The House expresses its firm conviction that whenever the need arises the Canadian people will be found ready and willing to make any sacrifice that is required to give to the Imperial authorities the most loyal and hearty co-operation in every movement for the maintenance of the integrity and honour of the Empire. Resolution ends. " I understand that the Dominion Government proposes that its Defence Ministers should come here at an early date to confer with the Imperial Naval and Military Authorities upon technical matters arising upon that Resolution. " His Majesty's Government have also before them recent patriotic proposals made by Australia and New Zealand, proposals most highly appreciated by the Mother Country, and demanding very cordial and careful consideration both as to principle and detail. " I desire, therefore, to commend to you the following important suggestion, namely, that a Conference of representatives of the self-govern-ing Dominions convened under the terms of Resolution I. of the Conference of 1907, which provides for such subsidiary conferences, should be held in London early in July next. The object of the Conference would be to discuss the general question of Naval and Military Defence of the Empire with special reference to the Canadian Resolution, and to the proposals from New Zealand and Australia to which 1 have referred. " I assume that as the consultation would be generally upon technical or quasi-technical naval and military matters the other Governments of the self-governing Dominions would elect to be represented as in the case of Canada by their Ministers of Defence, or failing them by some

* Australia, New Zealand, Cape of Good Hope, and Newfoundland.