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Sir,— Paris, 27th August, 1911. 1 have the honour to inform you that I have received a note from, the French Minister for . Foreign Affairs, in which he refers to a note dated Bth January, 1910, which I addressed to Monsieur Pichon in accordance with instructions contained in your despatch No. 5, Commercial, of the 7th of .January, 1910, and by which I acquainted him that it had been decided, in virtue of the power given under section 185 of the New Zealand Shipping and Seamen Act, 1908, to recognize in New Zealand official passenger-steamer certificates issued in France. Monsieur de Selves expresses the wish to be furnished without delay, if possible, with the text of the decision in question. I have, &c, Francis Bertie. The Right Hon. Sir Edward Grey, Bart., M.P., &c.

Sir, — Downing Street, Bth September, 1911. 1. am directed by Mr. Secretary Harcourt to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 30th ultimo (No. 33860), forwarding a copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Ambassador at Paris stating that the French Government desire to be furnished with the text of the decision of the New Zealand Government to recognize official passenger-steamer certificates issued in France. I am to request you to inform Secretary Sir E. Grey, in reply, that the decision in question was presumably an executive decision of the New Zealand Minister of Marine of which no text would be available, and that nothing can be traced in the Neir Zealand Gazette on the subject. Inquiry will, however, be made of the Dominion Government in the matter. I am, &c, H. W. Just. The Under-Secretary of State, Foreign Office.

No. 96. New Zealand, No. 317. My Lord, — Downing Street, Bth September, 1911. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the papers noted below on the subject of legislation to be introduced into the Imperial Parliament with regard to pelagic sealing. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosures. Sir, — Westminster Chambers, 13 Victoria Street, London S.W., 25th August, 1911. I am directed by the High Commissioner to state that he has been requested by letter from his Government to ascertain what legislation has been or is being promoted by the Imperial Government with regard to pelagic sealing in any part of the waters of the Pacific Ocean and Behring Sea, about which a communication had been received in New Zealand from the Secretary of State for the Colonies. The letter adds that the Government of the Dominion has concurred in the proposals contained in the despatch from the Secretary of State on the understanding that the convention with the United States is restricted to the Northern Pacific, and will not apply to the taking of seals on land. The letter also states that the question as to promoting the necessary legislation required in New Zealand in connection with the convention has been submitted to the Solicitor-General, who advised that as it appears that the proposed convention has not yet been completed, legislation would at present be premature. He states that it will be necessary to wait until the convention has come into force, and that, although legislation would then be requisite, it would be advisable to ascertain what legislation is introduced into the Imperial Parliament in the matter, and to adopt that legislation with such alterations as local conditions may render necessary. The New Zealand Government are therefore anxious to have as early as possible the information asked for in the first paragraph of this letter, with copy of any Act that may have been passed. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office, C. Wray Palliser,

Date. Description. :5th August, 1911 list August, 1911 . .' From the High Commissioner for New Zealand. • •To