A.—2.

22

prepared to renew for a period of five years from the date of its expiration the arbitration agreement concluded between our Governments on the 14th October, 1903, and renewed on three occasions since that date. By your note of the 12th July Your Excellency was good enough to inform Lord Crewe that the French Government were, on their part, equally prepared to accept the renewal of this agreement on the conditions indicated by His Majesty's Government. Should Your Excellency agree, it will be understood that the present note and Your Excellency's reply will serve to place on record the understanding arrived at between our two Governments. I have, &c, Eric Phipi>s. No. 2. M. Poincare to Mr. Phipps. M. le Ministre, — Ministere dcs Affaires etrangeres. Paris, le 29 Aout, 1923. J'ai l'honneur de vous accuser reception dc votre note en date d'aujourd'hui, par laquellc vous avez bien voulu me faire connaitre que le Gouvernement de Sa Majeste Britannique etait dispose a renouveler pour une periodc de cinq annees, a partir de la date de son expiration, la Convention d'Arbitrage conclue cntre nos Gouvernements le 14 Octobre, 1903, etant entendu que le Gouvernement de la Republique Francaise fut cgalement pret a consentir a un tel renouvellement. J'ai l'honneur d'aocepter de la part dv Gouvernement de la Republique, la proposition que ladite Convention d'Arbitrage soit encore renouvelee pour une periode de cinq annees a partir dv 14 Octobre prochain. L'echange dcs notes actuelles entre l'Ambassade d'Angloterre et le Ministere dcs Affaires etrangeres servira a constater I'entente intervenue entre nos deux Gouvornements a cc sujet. Veuillez, &c., R. Poincare. [Translation. | M. le Ministre, — Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Paris, 29th August, 1923. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your note of to-day, in which you have been so good as to inform me that His Britannic Majesty's Government wore prepared to renew, for a period of five years from the date of its expiration, tho arbitration agreement concluded between our Governments on the 14th October, 1903, it being understood that the French Government were equally ready to consent to such a renewal. I have the honour to accept, on behalf of the French Government, the proposal that the aforesaid arbitration agreement be again renewed for a period of five years from the '14th October next. The exchange of the present notes between the British Embassy and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs will serve to place on record the understanding arrived at between our two Governments to this effect. Accept, &c, R. Poincare.

—— -^———— No. 27. New Zealand, No. 218. My Lord, — Downing Street, 16th October, 1923. With reference to the late Viscount Harcourt's despatch, No. 494, of the 10th November, 1914, and to Mr. Walter (now Lord) Long's despatch, Dominions No. 737, of the 24th December, 1918, I have the honour to request Your Excellency to inform your Ministers that the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries has observed that serious difficulties have recently arisen in the administration of the Importation of Dogs Orders owing to the fact that certificates which have been given by officers on vessels for the purpose of obtaining concessions in respect of the landing of imported dogs from vessels free from quarantine have been found by experience to have been given without due regard to accuracy or to the serious results which might conceivably follow through an abuse of the concession. 2. In view of the very serious restrictions which were necessitated by, and the grave inconveniences which followed from, the introduction of rabies into this country in 1918, the Minister is anxious to safeguard the country from the risk of the reintroduction of this disease by every possible means. He felt it necessary, therefore, that when the abuses referred to were brought to light the whole question of the concessions hitherto granted under the Order should be reviewed, and as a result he has reluctantly decided that all concessions whatever shall be withdrawn in future. By virtue of this decision, therefore, the Minister will no longer be able to accord exceptional treatment in respect of dogs imported from Australia or New Zealand, and he wishes to express his regret that circumstances shou'd have arisen