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.