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A.—2

It will be noted that the headstones are being provided free of charge in the circumstances by the United States military authorities. I venture to request that the facts reported be brought to the notice of the Dominion Governments concerned, in order that the relatives of the deceased may be informed. I also venture to suggest that suitable messages of thanks may be conveyed to the American Legion and the United States military authorities for their action. I may say that I have already spoken to Mr. Drake, the official of the American Legion in charge of the arrangements, and expressed to him my appreciation of what has been done. I have told him that the matter would be reported, to His Majesty's Government. I have, &c, Constantine Graham. Enclosure No. 1 in Mr. C. Graham's despatch, No. 59, of the 29th August, 1923. Extract from the Panama Star and Herald of the 19th August, 1923. Graves of Anzacs who died here to have United States Markers. Headstones similar to those recently installed to mark graves of United States Service men buried at Corozal will show where men from Antipodes rest. The graves of the three Australian and New Zealand soldiers who died on the isthmus as the result of wounds received while fighting for the cause of the Allies during the World. War are not to be forgotten. Headstones, with suitable inscriptions, will be placed on their graves as soon as they are received from the United States. The headstones will be similar to those recently installed to mark the graves of the American soldiers, sailors, and marines buried on the isthmus. This action is the result of recent correspondence between T. M. Drake, of the Service Committee of American Legion No. 1, and the Army officials on the isthmus and in Washington and with the Governor of the Canal. Buried in Post Cemetery. The Quartermaster-General of the Army has advised that the headstones can be provided, free of cost, if the soldiers are buried in a post cemetery. Since the cemetery at Corozal, where the three men are buried, is considered a post cemetery, the headstones will doubtless be furnished and forwarded to the isthmus within a short time. After their arrival they will be placed on the three graves by the American Legion with appropriate ceremonies. The three soldiers for whom the headstones will be provided are Charles Dall, a private in the loth Regiment, Australian Imperial Forces, who died on the 4th September, 1917 ; Charles T. W. McKinley, of Dunedin, New Zealand, who died 22nd April, 1918;. and T. Renfrew, No. 253/111, of the Auckland Infantry Regiment, New Zealand Expeditionary Force, who died 26th March, 1919. All three of these men were dangerously wounded while in action, and were being returned to their native land on the British hospital ships that passed through the Canal. They were, however, unable to survive the journey and died on the isthmus. It seems fitting, therefore, that they should receive this recognition of their supreme sacrifice in the cause of humanity. The Most Honourable the Marquess Curzon of Kedleston, K.G., P.C., &c.

No. 26. New Zealand, Dominions No. 385. My Lord, — Downing Street, 13th October, 1923. With reference to my despatch, Dominions No. 368, of the 26th September, I have the honour to transmit to Your Excellency, for the information of your Ministers, copies of a parliamentary paper Cmd. 1960 (Treaty Series No. 20 of 1923), containing notes exchanged with the French Government on the 29th August, relative to the renewal for a period of five years of the arbitration agreement concluded between Great Britain and France on the 14th October 1903. I have, &c, DEVONSHIRE. Governor-General His Excellency the Right Hon. Viscount Jellicoe, G.C.8., 0.M., G.C.V.0., &c.

Enclosure. Renewal of the Existing Arbitration Agreement between Great Britain and France. [29th August, 1923.] No. 1. Mr. Phipps to M. Poincare. M. le President dv Conseil, — British Embassy, Paris, 29th August, 1923. By his note of the 6th June last His Excellency the Marquess of Crewe, His Britannic Majesty's Ambassador, informed Your Excellency that His Britannic Majesty's Government were