18. Mr. MAC QU I STEN (for Lieut.-Colonel THOM)asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs if at the forthcoming Imperial Conference any schemes for the development of the uninhabited territories of the British Empire, and of the Empire generally, will be considered?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREMy right hon. Friend has no doubt that the question of Empire development will arise in the course of the discussion on oversea settlement which is to be included in the Agenda for the Imperial Conference. There are, also other subjects for discussion at the Conference on which such questions may arise. But, for the reasons which my right hon. Friend mentioned in the course of his statement on the 29th July, it is for the Government of the area concerned to initiate the consideration of any particular scheme or schemes of this nature.