k.~4

18

XIX. Commercial Treaties. That His Majesty's Government be requested to open negotiations with the several Foreign Governments having commercial treaties which apply to the overseas Dominions, with a view to securing liberty for any of those Dominions which may so desire to withdraw from the operation of the Treaty without impairing the Treaty in respect of the rest of the Empire. XX. Royal Commission as to Natural Resources and Improvement of Trade of the Empire. That His Majesty should be approached with a view to the appointment of a Royal Commission representing the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Newfoundland, with a view of investigating and reporting upon the natural resources of each part of the Empire represented at this Conference, the development attained and attainable, and the facilities for production, manufacture, and distribution; the trade of each part with the others and with the outside world, the food and raw material requirements of each and the sources thereof available, to what extent, if any, the trade between each of the different parts has been affected by existing legislation in each, either beneficially or otherwise, and by what methods consistent with the existing fiscal policy of each part the trade of each part with the others may be improved and extended. XXI. Mail Communication. That in the interests of the Empire it is desirable that Great Britain should be connected with Canada and Newfoundland and through Canada with Australia and New Zealand by the best mail-service available. XXII Trade and Postal Communications and Shipping Conferences or Combines. That concerted action be taken by all Governments of the Empire to promote better Trade and Postal Communications between Great Britain and the overseas Dominions, and in particular to discourage Shipping Conferences or combines for the control of freight rates between the various portions of the Empire, in so far as the operations of such Conferences are prejudicial to trade. XXIII. Wider Powers of Legislation as to Merchant Shipping. (The Governments of the Dominions of Canada and New Zealand only were in favour of this Resolution, the Governments of the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth of Australia, the Union of South Africa, and Newfoundland!! abstaining.) That the self-governing overseas Dominions have now reached a stage of development when they should be entrusted with wider legislative powers in respect of British and Foreign shipping. XXIV. Uniformity of Law as to Alien Immigration Exclusion. That it is in the best interests of the Empire that there should be more uniformity throughout its centres and dependencies in the law of alien immigration exclusion, and that it is therefore desirable that it should be referred to the Royal Commission recommended by the Imperial Conference.

June 16. P. 339.

June 16. P. 344.

June 16. P. 357.

June 16, P. 392.

June 19. P. 424.

June 19. P. 424.