A.—6a

128

and in 1921-22 arrangements were made with the Government of Canada and later suggested to the other Dominion Governments under which Dominion firms and Trade Commissioners would be able to apply to Commercial Diplomatic Officers for similar assistance to that which they receive from Consular Officers. It is still considered desirable that inquiries which the Governments of the Dominions and India or their official representatives in the United Kingdom wisli to address to Commercial Diplomatic Officers stationed in Europe should, in the first instance, be transmitted through the regular channels to the Department of Overseas Trade. Little or no delay will result from the maintenance of this procedure, and in many cases the supply of information required will in fact be expedited owing to the information already being within the possession of the Department. If, however, the Governments of the Dominions and of India think it would be of advantage to them, His Majesty's Government will be glad to make arrangements under which the services of Commercial Diplomatic Officers outside Europe can be utilized by them in the same way and to the same extent as the services of His Majesty's Trade Commissioners are at their disposal. Similar arrangements could also be made in respect of Senior Consular Officers in extra-European countries where there are no Commercial Diplomatic Officers if this is desired. April, 1923.

COMMERCIAL FACILITIES COMMITTEE. The Committee was constituted as follows :— Sir Sydney Chapman, K.C.8., C.8.E., Permanent Secretary, Board of Trade ; Sir W. H. Clark, K.C.5.1., C.M.G., Comptroller-General, Department of Overseas Trade ; Mr. C. J. T. B. Grylls, C.8.E., Board of Customs and Excise ; Mr. Harrison Watson, and Mr. .R. H. Coats, 8.A., F.S.S., Canada; Major R. McK. Oakley, C.8.E., Comptroller-General of Customs, Commonwealth of Australia ; The Hon. Sir James Allen, K.C.8., High Commissioner for New Zealand ; Mr. G. Owen Smith, 1.5.0., Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Union of South Africa ; Mr. C. J. Flynn, Revenue Commissioner, Irish Free State ; The Hon. Sir Marmaduke Winter, C.8.E., Minister without Portfolio, Newfoundland (assisted by The Hon. Sir P. McGrath, K.8.E., and Captain V. Gordon, Acting High Commissioner for Newfoundland) ; Mr. F. A. Lindsay, C.8.E., Indian Trade Commissioner in London ; Sir Gilbert Grindle, K.C.M.G., C.8., Assistant Under-j Secretary of State for the Colonies ; Mr. A. J. Harding, 0.8. E.; Colonles and Protectorates. Mr. L. R. Lumley, M.P. j Mr. H. Broadley, Board of Trade, and Lieutenant-Colonel J. Reid-Hyde, C.8.E., Dominion of Canada Delegation, acted as joint secretaries to the Committee.

FIRST REPORT. The Commercial Facilities Committee appointed by the Imperial Economic Conference at its meetings on Thursday, the 4th October, and Friday, the sth October, beg to make the following interim report. The following matters were referred to the Committee for consideration : — (I.) Commercial intelligence services ; (2.) Commercial travellers' samples ; (3.) Trade catalogues and price-lists ; (4.) (a.) Certificates of valuation for Customs purposes ; (b.) Other matters connected with Customs formalities ; (5.) Statistics. With regard to items (4) (a) and (5), the Committee will be making a report shortly. With regard to items (1), (2), (3), and (4-) (6), the Committee have prepared the following resolutions which they would suggest should be submitted for adoption by plenary meetings of the Imperial Economic Conference. Resolution I. Commercial Intelligence Services. The Committee recommend the adoption by the Imperial Economic Conference of the following resolution:—The Conference takes note of the offer of His Majesty's Government to place the services of His Majesty's Commercial Diplomatic Officers in foreign countries at the disposal of the Governments of the Dominions and India and of the colonies and protectorates in the same way and to the same extent as the services of His Majesty's Trade Commissioners within the Empire are already at their disposal. It notes that His Majesty's Government propose that, as regards countries outside of Europe, the Governments should utilize direct the services of Commercial Diplomatic Officers or of