§ The last point was one which was put forward by the hon. Baronet opposite in regard to the Commission to inquire into the resources of the Empire. I think the Member for South Birmingham said there has been a discred table delay in the formation and composition of this Commission. I am sorry he should have thought it necessary to use that language, because I think he will see that there has not been any delay on the part of the Imperial Government, but merely a natural and necessary delay on the part of one of two of the Dominions in the selection of their representatives.
Mr. HARCOURTI was just going to deal in passing with the suggestion of the hon. Baronet that this Commission should be greatly enlarged in its scope. The Commission is the result of a resolution passed by the Conference, and that resolution specifies exactly what it is to do. It is only to inquire into the resources of the self-governing Dominions. The Imperial Conference never intended this should be a world-embracing Commission. I think they were wise, because, if they had made it world-embracing, they would have it continually enduring, whereas we hope to have a valuable Report from it before the next Imperial Conference. The hon. Baronet asked me as to the terms of Reference and the exclusion of the fiscal question. He probably knows from what he has read, and indeed from what I said to him on a previous occasion in this House, that the exclusion of the fiscal question from the terms of Reference was agreed to by the whole Conference. It was quite clear in the discussions at that Conference it would be just as inconvenient and disagreeable to the Dominions to have a Report of that Commission pressing Free Trade upon them as it would be unpleasant to us to have a Report pressing upon us a policy in which we as a Government do not believe. Everybody at that Conference was agreed as to the 1223 necessity and desirability of the exclusion of the fiscal question from the Commission, and that has formed the basis of the whole Commission and of every invitation which I have issued to individuals to join it.
Sir GILBERT PARKERSupposing Canada and the West Indies, in giving evidence concerning their products and resources, desired to show that by certain arrangements with each other they could advance the development of those resources and their exchange, would that be the kind of thing that would be excluded from the consideration of the Commission?
Mr. HARCOURTI think the hon. Baronet is really able to judge from the wording of the Resolution which will practically form the terms of reference. They can suggest any method consistent always with the existing fiscal policy of each part of the Empire, by which the trade of each part of the Empire with one another and with the United Kingdom might be improved and extended. Some complaint has been made of delay in the appointment of this Commission. I have staled it was not my fault I have not been able sooner to make the announcement; in fact, yesterday afternoon I could not have made the announcement, but to-day I am in a position to do so. The final step has been taken, I have made the necessary submission to His Majesty, I have received his consent, and I am able, if the House would like me to do so, to announce the names of the Gentlemen who will form the Commission. There are, as arranged, six members from the United Kingdom and five members from the Dominions, one from each. The members are:—
For the United Kingdom:
The Right Honourable Lord Inchcape of Strathnayer, G.C.M.G., K.C.S.I., K.C.I.E. (to be Chairman of the Commission).
Sir Edgar Vincent, K.C.M.G.
Sir Charles John Owens.
Sir H. Rider Haggard.
Mr. Tom Garnett (of Manchester).
Mr. William Lorimer (of Glasgow).
For the Dominion of Canada:
The Honourable George Eulas Foster, Minister of Trade and Customs.
For the Commonwealth of Australia:
Mr. Donald Campbell, LL.B., formerly a Member of the Legislature of South Australia.
1224 For the Dominion of New Zealand:
The Right Honourable Sir Joseph George Ward, Bart., K.C.M.G., recently Prime Minister of the Dominion.
For the Union of South Africa:
The Honourable Sir David de Villiers Graaff, Bart., Minister of Posts and Telegraphs.
For Newfoundland:
The Honourable Edgar Bowring, Member of the Legislative Council.
With William Arthur Robinson, Esq., of the Colonial Office, to be Secretary to the Commission.
That constitutes a Commission of eleven, in my opinion as strong a Commission as has ever been formed within the Empire for any purpose. It is a Commission from which we have deliberately excluded all Members of the House of Commons, in order to exclude every possible question of party politics. It is a Commission which will be laborious, and whose labours must be long, but I hope they will be concluded in fact, I feel sure they will be concluded—before the next Imperial Conference. I believe it is a Commission in which this House, the country, and the Empire can feel complete confidence that they will carry out, not only with great ability, but with satisfaction to everyone who has the interests of the Empire at heart, the great trusts that have been handed over to them.