IMPERIAL UNITY [PART VIII 
in their opinion, they had not been in a position to make 
any such study of the question as to justify reliance on their 
judgement. 
The discussions on defence matters were, of course, confi- 
dential, but there was, as a matter of fact, nothing of any 
substantial importance to deal with so far as military 
defence was concerned, for the Conference of 1909 had 
settled in principle the lines on which Imperial co-operation in 
defence are to proceed, and therefore nothing more remained 
to be done on this occasion but to affirm the principles 
already accepted, and to report the progress already made 
in carrying out the resolutions of 1909. As regards naval 
defence much was done to render explicit the agreement 
arrived at in 1909.21 
As regards commercial treaties a definite step was taken 
in the decision to attempt to secure the right of separate 
withdrawal from old treaties for the Dominions. But this 
is merely a carrying out of an old principle, nor does the 
Imperial Government seem to have conceded the right to 
any Dominion to conclude a treaty with a foreign country 
in which it would discriminate against the United Kinedom.2 
1558 
‘ The change of government in Canada is expected to result in the 
reference to the people of the question of Canadian participation in naval 
defence ; see Mr. Pelletier, Canadian Gazette, lviii. 188; Mr. Monk, House 
of Commons, Nov. 23. 1911. Both navies have adopted the new rule as 
to flags. 
* Ree New Zealand Parliamentary Debates, clv. 93. Cf. also Caraiian 
Gazeite, Iviii. 173, 177, 178; Ewart, The Kingdom Pagers, pp. 107, 108. 
Negotiations for withdrawal had already been attempted with Austria and 
[taly at the wish of the Commonwealth, but unsuccessfully ; see Cd. 5745, 
p. 337. The negotiations have been begun, and a new treaty made with 
Bolivia. For a list of the treaties, see p. 1153, to which as affecting all or 
some Dominions fall to be added that of 1826 with France, that of 1883 
with Italy, that with Morocco of 1856, that of 1888 with Mexico, and 
possibly one or two others ; cf. House of Commons Debates. xxx. 703. 841.