35

A.—4

23 May, 1911.] Agenda and Days for Meetings. [Ist Day. The PRESIDENT : I should suggest that it should come on as Sir Wilfrid Laurier suggests —immediately after tne discussion on the Imperial Council. Mr. FISHER : We have no objection to its coming on after these important matters have been discussed. Mr. HARCOURT : You would like it taken really on Thursday, Ist June, the following sitting. Mr. FISHER : Yes. The PRESIDENT : I do not suppose anybody would object to that at all; it was not put there because it was regarded as unimportant. What we wanted was to secure the presence of the Foreign Secretary, as we are leaving that to him. Mr. FISHER : I quite appreciate that, but I thought it advisable to raise the point. The PRESIDENT : Quite right. — Mr. HARCOURT : I suppose it might be left open for the moment in order that I might consult the Foreign Secretary as to his being able to attend before that date % Mr. FISHER : On or about that date. The-PRESIDENT : Yes. Mr. HARCOURT : Before we leave the Agenda, I again repeat what I said to the members of the Conference yesterday, that it is proposed with their concurrence to send to the Press a verbatim and unrevised report of the speeches at the opening of the Conference to-day; and also, of course, the Vote of Homage to the King. Sir JOSEPH WARD : That does not refer to the debate on the question of the admission of the Press ? Mr. HARCOURT : No, we stop at that point; and then the summary begins. The PRESIDENT : If there is any other comment upon the Agenda, or any desire to transfer subjects from one place to another, this would be the best time to raise it. Mr. FISHER : Perhaps, Mr. Asquith, this would be a convenient time to raise a question that will arise sooner or later : whether the Ministers with the Prime Ministers will speak after the Prime Minister, or whether they will speak after the other Prime Ministers have spoken. That is one of those little details which had better be settled beforehand. Sir WILFRID LAURIER : I would say they should speak when the spirit moves them. The PRESIDENT : I think we should have a very free discussion. Mr. FISHER : I shall be delighted. The PRESIDENT : If anybody has anything to say at any stage, let him say it.