48

XII.—CONCLUDING RESOLUTIONS The Closing Session of the Conference was held in the House of Commons Chamber in the Parliament Buildings. At this session, the Chairman of the Conference, on behalf of the delegates, presented to the Rt. Hon. Stanley Baldwin, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the United Kingdom Delegation, a salver, as an expression of their appreciation of his presence at the Conference and of the great service which he had rendered, not only to his own Country, but to the world at large—his public service and his activities in literature and in many other fields. Upon the motion of the Leader of the United Kingdom Delegation, seconded by the Leader of the Delegation for Australia, the Conference placed on record a resolution of thanks to the Prime Minister of Canada for having presided over the Conference and, as a permanent mark of esteem, the Leader of the Delegation of the United Kingdom, on behalf of the delegates, presented to the Chairman a salver, which might be a memento of his service in that capacity. The Conference adopted the following resolutions: —- " The Imperial Economic Conference desires to record its appreciation of the work accomplished by the chairmen and members of the committees and sub-committees which have been engaged in the discussion of the subjects referred to them. " The Conference desires to record its appreciation of the work performed by Dr. 0. D. Skelton as Secretary of the Conference and his able associates of the Conference Secretariat whose efficient and faithful services have assured the successful administration of the proceedings of the Conference." The delegates, in their concluding speeches, also expressed their appreciation of the hospitality which they had received, including both Government hospitality and private hospitality, and of the work of the Hospitality Committee during their stay in Ottawa. The concluding addresses are included in the Record in Annex IV. XIII,— TRADE AGREEMENTS At the Closing Session Trade Agreements were signed, in the following order:— (i) United Kingdom-Australia; (ii) United Kingdom-Union of South Africa; (iii) United Kingdom-New Zealand; (iv) United Kingdom-India; (v) United Kingdom-Newfoundland; (vi) United Kingdom-Southern Rhodesia; (vii) United Kingdom-Canada; (viii) Canada-Irish Free State; (ix) Canada-Union of South Africa; (x) Canada-Southern Rhodesia; (xi) Union of South Africa-Irish Free State; (xii) New Zealand-Union of South Africa (by exchange of letters). During the Conference negotiations were commenced with a view to the conclusion of agreements between other members of the British Commonwealth, and substantial progress was made. XIV,— ADDRESS TO HIS MAJESTY THE KING, EMPEROR OF INDIA At the Closing Session, the following address to His Majesty was moved by the Chairman of the Conference, seconded by the Leader of the Delegation of the Union of South Africa, and unanimously adopted:— " To His Majesty the King,—Emperor of India: The representatives of the Governments of the British Commonwealth, who. have been assembled in conference at Ottawa during the past few weeks, desire at the conclusion of the Conference again to present their respectful duty. " They pray that Divine Providence may continue to give to Your Majesty and to Her Majesty the Queen, health and strength to preside over the destinies of all the Nations of the Commonwealth and they renew the assurance of devotion and affection of your peoples." The address was despatched by the Chairman of the Conference.