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APPENDIX  B.

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directly  to  the  new  Intelligence  Branch  are  most  varied  and  minute.  Besides
the  ordinary  queries  as  to  customs  duties,  trade  mark  legislation,  &amp;c.,  they
raise  many  points  of  commercial  law  and  practice  ;  they  include  questions  as
to  the  condition  of  markets  and  openings  for  new  ventures  in  all  parts  of  the
world,  particularly  in  the  British  Colonies  ;  as  well  as  questions  relating  to
the  names  of  traders  and  the  different  classes  of  goods  for  which  there  is  a
demand  ;  they  also  have  reference  to  the  opportunities  for  tendering  for  public
and  municipal  works  and  contracts.
The  Governments  of  the  Colonies  will  no  doubt  gladly  give  material  aid
in  the  collection  of  this  information.
9.  The  object  to  be  aimed  at  is  twofold—
(a)  The  regular  transmission  to  this  country  of  such  commercial
information  as  will,  if  possible,  anticipate  inquiries.
(ô)  The  establishment  of  a  recognised  system  under  which  such
inquiries  as  cannot  be  answered  in  the  Intelligence  Branch  may
be  referred  to  the  Colony  to  which  they  relate.
10.  As  regards  the  first  of  these  objects,  it  has  been  suggested  to  me,  and
I  would  suggest  to  your  Government,  that  each  Colonial  Government  should
be  asked  to  communicate  by  telegraph  if  the  matter  is  important,  or  at  any
rate  by  the  first  mail—in  the  case  of  the  self-governing  Colonies  through  the
Agent-General’s  Office—all  changes  in  the  tariff  and  all  alterations  of  laws
which  may  affect  trade.
11.  In  any  case  all  reports  which  bear  on  the  trade  and  production  of  a
Colony  should  be  promptly  and  regularly  transmitted,  and  every  effort  should
be  made  to  improve  these  reports,  whether  they  are  what  are  known  as  the
Blue  Book  reports,  or  special  compilations  of  the  nature  contemplated  by
paragraph  20  of  the  Be  port  of  the  Commercial  Intelligence  Committee
of  1897.
12.  With  regard  to  the  second  object,  I  would  ask  you  and  your  advisers
to  consider  whether  arrangements  can  be  made  in  the  Colony  under  your
Government  to  charge  some  one  officer  with  the  duty  of  receiving  and
answering  the  various  inquiries  which  may  be  addressed  to  him,  either
officially  by  the  new  Commercial  Intelligence  Branch  in  this  country,  or
unofficially  by  merchants  and  others  who  may  seek  advice  direct  ;  in  the  latter
case  the  Intelligence  Branch  should  be  kept  duly  informed  in  the  event  of
similar  inquiries  being  put  to  them.
13.  In  the  case  of  the  self-governing  Colonies  it  will  no  doubt  be  desired
that  all  inquiries  which  are  referred  to  the  Colony  should  be  referred  through
the  Office  of  its  representative  in  this  country.
,  I  have,  &amp;c.
(Signed)  J.  CHAMBERLAIN.

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