PART I.
I suggest that a little later in the proceedings we should send a
reply to the Secretary of State and also send certain other telegrams
of greeting. T think I ought to say that we have also had messages
from other Governments. The Government of South Africa forward
their best wishes for the work and express the belief that the results
will be of the greatest benefit to those territories, whose representatives
are taking part. The Government of the Sudan express great regret
that they are unable to send a representative and wish the Conference
every success. The Government of the Seychelles has contributed a
paper and much regrets not being able to send a delegate to read it
but hopes much benefit will be derived from the discussions.
I should like on behalf of Kenya to give an especial welcome to
the representatives here of Italy, Belgium, and Portugal. All these
three countries were our old Allies in the war and all of them, I think,
are facing responsibilities in this part of Africa which have been
increased and enlarged by the war. (Hear, hear.) We are very glad,
therefore, to have their close and friendly co-operation like this in the
tasks of peace.
This Conference has been convened by the Secretary of State for
the Colonies. It was suggested in its present form originally, I think,
by the East African Commission which came out here in 1924 and
which published such an excellent report. It was also favoured and
strongly supported by the Governors’ Conference which met here at
the beginning of the present year and at that time, I think,
arrangements were definitely made for it to be held; but the origin
of the idea goes back a long way, to 1921. My friend, the Director
of Agriculture for Kenya, was the first. to suggest one side for it, the
agricultural side, and from other quarters came suggestions for a
cotton conference and for entomological and mycological conferences.
Very happily these three conferences have been combined and, as you
know, you will be dealing with joint problems covered by all three
subjects during sittings here.
I should like to say also how much we appreciate the co-operation
of the British Empire Cotton Growing Corporation which has sent five
representatives, the senior of whom is Mr. Milligan, well-known in all
matters pertaining to cotton and agriculture. I know that Kenya
does not offer cotton much prospect or hope, but the Colony is deeply
interested in cotton notwithstanding the fact that little cotton is grown
here, because the railway which serves Kenya is a railway to which
cotton is of the greatest importance; and whilst we are not able to do
much to grow cotton ourselves we are anxious to see it thriving in
Uganda and elsewhere.
The regions which the representatives of the different governments
here represent are potentially immensely rich. I suppose that this
is the greatest untouched reserve in the world. And it is only in the
present century that people have realised its possibilities. From the
dawn of history explorers have come to this country and perhaps some
of the old civilisations have pushed their way down into the interior
for a time, but practically speaking only the coast line and the fringe
had been touched until the era of great development began some thirty
years ago. From those hidden resources the veil has now been lifted
and great discoveries are being made. There is already beginning to
bear upon Hast Africa the full weight of the great world demand for
further production which is one of the greatest features of our time.