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under section 1 of the Act of 1906 was commenced, but various difficulties have so far delayed its completion. When this has been done it will be possible again to approach foreign governments in the matter and to endeavour to bring about the further arrangements contempleted under section 2of the Act. 7. It is noted that Ministers suggest that the matter might be discussed at an Imperial Conference, and a copy of the correspondence is accordingly being sent to the other Dominions and to the Secretary of State for India. I have, &c, Devonshire.

APPENDIX VII. ADDRESS BY HIS HIGHNESS THE MAHARAJAH OP ALWAR, ON THE DUSSEHRA FESTIVAL. 19th October, 1923. The Maharajah of Alwar: Prime Minister and friends, it is a curious coincidence —I hope, a happy coincidence. —that to-day in this room we should be discussing questions relating to military, naval, and air matters, all connected with the defence of the Empire, on the exact day when in India is being celebrated our greatest festival of the year. It is a festival to commemorate the march of Shri Ram, one of our greatest incarnations, to Ceylon, where he achieved victory. The anniversary is celebrated nowadays in India inspecting our military troops and units —in other words, examining the means of war, or, more, correctly speaking, the means of peace. We may thus in a sense be celebrating the Dussehra festival to-day by examining the means of defence of our Empire. Friends, I wish you all, in the name of my country, as an. Indian, in the name of the princes, as one of their order, our cordial and sincere Dussehra greetings to each anel all of you. Let us hope: that this quiet, almost unostentatious, work that we are, doing, or trying to do, will lead to co-ordination anel co-operation erf all the: forces erf the Empire to secure real peace, not only within but also without.

APPENDIX VIII. REPLY FROM HIS MAJESTY THE KING, EMPEROR OF INDIA, TO THE ADDRESS FROM THE CONFERENCE. It has been a great satisfaction to the Queen and myself to receive from the Prime Minister of Great Britain the address presented by the members of the Imperial Conference at the close of their sessions. We thank you most cordially for these inspiring words. The last few weeks have given me a happy opportunity to renew personal touch with some of my Ministers from the overseas Dominions, and of making the acquaintance of others on whom their present high responsibilities have fallen since, the last Conference. As Emperor of India, I welcome the members of the Conference from that great country. I know that its many peoples will rejoice, that the, problems brought on their behalf to the attention of the Conference have been dealt with so fully and sympathetically. No one can. follow closely, as I have done, the work of successive. Conferences without realizing the immense value of such meetings. First comes the spread of mutual knowledge: of the conditions obtaining in all parts of the Empire, then the increase, of good feeling that springs naturally from such knowledge, and, lastly, the hearty desire, to co-operate in strengthening the bonds which unite us, so that, however distracted, the world may be; the British Commonwealth shall stand steadfast and undismayed. I thank you one and all for your labours. I am confident that these will redound to the security, happiness, and prosperity of all the nations and peoples of my Empire. 14th November, 1923. George, R.I.

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