§ MR. LAMONTI beg to ask the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government, in view of the growth of opinion in favour of federation or unification of the West Indian Colonies since the matter was last debated in this House on 17th May, 1905, will consider the advisability of appointing a Royal Commission to inquire into the advantages of, and the desire of the inhabitants for, such a policy and the means by which it could best be carried into effect.
§ THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Colonel SEELY,) Liverpool, AbercrombyThe Secretary of State desires me to say that the question of closer union between the West Indian Colonies is engaging his attention, and that he will not fail to consider the suggested appointment of a Royal Commission when he has further studied the social, economic, and political conditions of those Colonies.