§ MR. PIKE PEASE (Darlington)To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what were the terms of the Secretary of State's cablegram to the Governor-General of Canada on 25th September last, relative to subjects for discussion at the Colonial Conference, and the Governor-General's reply thereto; whether these despatches have been laid before the Canadian Parliament; and, if so, will he say why they have been omitted from the official correspondence presented to this House.
§
(Answered by Mr. Churchill.) The Secretary of State's telegram of the 25th September was as follows: "Matter most urgent. When may reply be expected
†See (4) Debates, clxx., 1419–20.
340
to my despatch 22nd February, Colonial Conference, paragraph 5." The despatch is printed on pages 3–4 of [Cd. 2975.] The Governor-General's reply, dated 28th September, was as follows: "In answer to your telegram of 25th September, responsible Ministers do not desire at the present time to present any new subject for discussion at Colonial Conference." The Papers laid before the Dominion Parliament respecting the Colonial Conference have not yet been received at the Colonial Office. It did not appear to be necessary to include the telegrams quoted above in the Papers laid before Parliament, in view of the terms of paragraph 2 of the Secretary of State's despatch in [Cd. 3337].
MR. PIKE PEASETo ask the Under-secretary of State for the Colonies, whether any reply has been received to the Secretary of State's cablegram to the Governor-General of Canada, of 21st January last, asking for the names of the Ministers and staff who would attend the Colonial Conference; and, if so, will he give the names of these gentlemen.
§ (Answered by Mr. Churchill.) I refer the hon. Member to my Answer to the hon. Member for the Central Division of Sheffield on the 18th of February.‡