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114

a.-i, 1912, No. 60.

No. 104 New Zealand, No. 340. My Lord, — Downing Street, 29th September, 1911. With reference to my despatch, No. 119, of the 30th of March, I have honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a note from the Belgian Charge d'Affaires inquiring the views of your Government on the resolutions arrived at by the International Conference on Commercial Statistics. 2. I shall be glad to learn what reply your Ministers desire to be returned to the inquiry made by the Belgian Government. 3. The views of His Majesty's Government on the question will be seen from the accompanying copy of a note addressed to the Belgian Minister on the 3rd of May by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c. Enclosures. Monsieur le Secretaire d'Etat,— Londres, le 31 aout, 1911. Par sa lettre dv 3 mai dernier Votre Excellence a bien voulu faire connaitre a Monsieur le Comte de Lalaing l'acceuil reserve par le Gouvernement de Sa Majest6 Britannique aux resolutions v6tees par la Conference Internationale de Statistique Commerciale. D'ordre de mon Gouvernement j'ai l'honneur d'avoir recours aux bons offices de Votre Excellence en vue d'apprendre si les relations dont il s'agit rencontrent l'adhesion dcs Gouvernements dv Commonwealth Australien, de lTnde et de la Nouvelle-Zelande. Le Gouvernement de la Nouvelle Zelande a etc saisi de la question par l'intermediaire de la Legation de Sa Majesty Britannique a Bruxelles. Sir Edward Grey, Bart, M.P., &c. Paul H. May. Sir,— Foreign Office, 3rd May, 1911. With reference to the note which you were good enough to address to me on the 27th of February, on the subject of the proposals of the International Conference on Customs Statistics, I have the honour to inform you that His Majesty's Government agree in principle to prepare annually an abstract of the Customs statistics of this country on the lines of the classification provisionally adopted by the Conference, so as to secure on a uniform basis a record of the imports and exports of the countries which took part in the Conference. They are also of opinion that the proper execution of this project would be facilitated by the establishment of a permanent Secretariat at Brussels, which would communicate directly with some officially designated representative of each country as regards the preparation and supply of the statistics required, and would publish them at regular intervals. As, however, the expenses of such a Secretariat would have to be borne jointly by the countries which adopted the scheme, and as His Majesty's Government have no information as to the probable expenditure which would thus be imposed on them, they cannot at present pledge themselves to agree to its establishment. His Majesty's Government will be glad to consider the matter further in the event of the proposal commending itself generally to other countries, and if it should appear that the expenditure required would be of a comparatively trifling character. I have, &c, Count de Lalaing, &c. No. 105 New Zealand, No. 343. My Lord,— Downing Street, 4th October, 1911. With reference to my predecessor's despatch, No. 142, of the 7th of July, 1910, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copies of a memorandum defining the duties and responsibilities of the Inspectors-General of the Home and Oversea Forces. I have, &o, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

Enclosures. Monsieur le Secretaire d'Etat, — Londres, le 31 aout, 1911. Par sa lettre dv 3 mai dernier Votre Excellence a bien voulu faire connaitre a Monsieur le Comte de Lalaing l'acceuil reserve par le Gouvernement de Sa Majest6 Britannique aux resolutions v6tees par la Conference Internationale de Statistique Commerciale. D'ordre de mon Gouvernement j'ai l'honneur d'avoir recours aux bons offices de Votre Excellence en vue d'apprendre si les relations dont il s'agit rencontrent l'adhesion dcs Gouvernements dv Commonwealth Australien, de l'lnde et de la Nouvelle-Zelande. Le Gouvernement de la Nouvelle Zelande a etis saisi de la question par l'intermediaire de la Legation de Sa Majesty Britannique a Bruxelles. Sir Edward Grey, Bart, M.P., &c. Paul H. May.

Sir,— Foreign Office, 3rd May, 1911. With reference to the note which you were good enough to address to me on the 27th of February, on the subject of the proposals of the International Conference on Customs Statistics, I have the honour to inform you that His Majesty's Government agree in principle to prepare annually an abstract of the Customs statistics of this country on the lines of the classification provisionally adopted by the Conference, so as to secure on a uniform basis a record of the imports and exports of the countries which took part in the Conference. They are also of opinion that the proper execution of this project would be facilitated by the establishment of a permanent Secretariat at Brussels, which would communicate directly with some officially designated representative of each country as regards the preparation and supply of the statistics required, and would publish them at regular intervals. As, however, the expenses of such a Secretariat would have to be borne jointly by the countries which adopted the scheme, and as His Majesty's Government have no information as to the probable expenditure which would thus be imposed on them, they cannot at present pledge themselves to agree to its establishment. His Majesty's Government will be glad to consider the matter further in the event of the proposal commending itself generally to other countries, and if it should appear that the expenditure required would be of a comparatively trifling character. I have, &c, Count de Lalaing, &c.

No. 105 New Zealand, No. 343. My Lord, — Downing Street, 4th October, 1911. With reference to my predecessor's despatch, No. 142, of the 7th of July, 1910, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copies of a memorandum denning the duties and responsibilities of the Inspectors-General of the Home and Oversea Forces. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.