A.—2

26

No. 35. New Zealand, Dominions No. 321. My Lord,— Downing Street, 28th May, 1917. I have the honour to request Your Excellency to invite the attention of your Ministers to the proceedings of the Imperial War Conference, a report of which will be found in the parliamentary paper of which copies are being sent to you in another despatch, on the subject of the appointment of an Imperial War Graves Commission. 2. It will be observed that on the 13th ultimo the Conference passed a resolution praying His Majesty to constitute by Royal Charter an Imperial War Graves Commission on the lines set forth in the draft charter submitted to the Conference, and I now enclose copies of an Order of His Majesty in Council of the 10th instant approving the draft charter. 3. I should be glad if you would inform me by telegraph of the name of the person appointed by your Government to represent New Zealand on the Commission. I have, &c, WALTER H LONG. Governor His Excellency the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, G.C.M.G., M.V.0., &c.

Enclosure. At the Court at Buckingham Palace, the 10th day of May, 1917. Present : The King's Most Excellent Majesty in Council. Whereas there was this day read at the Board a letter from Mr. Secretary Long, dated the Ist day of May, 1917, transmitting the draft of a charter of incorporation to be granted to "The Imperial War Graves Commission " : His Majesty, having taken the said draft charter into consideration, was pleased, by and with the advice of his Privy Council, to approve thereof, and to order, as it is hereby ordered,, that the Right Honourable Sir George Cave, one of His Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, do cause a Warrani to be prepared for II is Majesty's Royal signature, for passing under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom a charter in conformity with the said draft, which is hereunto annexed. J. C. Ledlih. George the Fifth, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India. To all to whom these presents shall come : Greeting. Whereas it has been represented to Us by our most dearly beloved son Edward, Prince of Wales, Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, that the establishment and organization of a permanent Imperial body charged with the duty of caring for the graves of officers and men of our Military and Naval Forces raised in all parts of our Empire who have fallen, or may fall, in the present war, and have been, or may be, buried either in foreign countries or in our dominions, would, by honouring and perpetuating the memory of their common sacrifice, tend to keep alive the ideals for the maintenance and defence of which they have laid down their lives, to strengthen the bonds of union between all classes and races in our dominions, and to promote a feeling of common citizenship and of loyalty and devotion to Us and to the Empire of which they are subjects : And whereas the Government of the French Republic has made generous provision by law for the grant in perpetuity of land for the graves of all officers and men buried in France belonging to the Forces of all foreign States fighting in alliance with the Forces of the said Republic, and negotiations are now proceeding, or will hereafter be instituted, on our behalf with the Governments of other foreign States for similar grants of land for the graves of officers and men of our said Forces who have been, or may be, buried in Belgium, in the Gallipoli Peninsula, in Mesopotamia, in parts of Africa not within our dominions, or in any other foreign territory: And whereas the objects intended to be promoted by this our charter have hitherto formed the care of our Army Council and of a Committee appointed by the Lords Commissioners of our Treasury, of which our said dearly beloved son the Prince of Wales is the President: And whereas application has been made to Us by our said dearly beloved son the Prince of Wales to incorporate himself and the persons from time to time holding the several offices hereinafter named, and all other persons who may become members of the 1 said body as hereinafter provided :