802 THE FEDERATIONS AND THE UNION [PART IV 
the local executive. It has done so in implicit reliance on 
the co-operation and good will of the Colonial Executives, 
and in the confident faith that Imperial obligations are held 
as sacred by the people and the ministers of the Crown in 
the Dominions of His Majesty beyond the Seas as they are 
by the people and Government of this country. 
That confidence has been amply justified by the steadfast 
loyalty of the Colonies and their ministers, and I have no 
doubt that in like manner in the case of Australia when the 
change made by the Commonwealth Constitution Act is fully 
understood the position of the federal authority as an 
intermediary will not in any way impair that loyalty or the 
cordiality with which any request for explanation or assis- 
tance has been met by the Governments of the several states 
now merged in the Commonwealth. 
I do not gather that your ministers wish to contend that 
the question which arose in regard to the Vondel was not 
a ‘ federal > matter, but that it only contends that as it was 
one in regard to which the State Executive could, in present 
circumstances, alone take action, application should have 
been made direct to them. That contention I have dealt 
fully with above, and it does not appear to be necessary to 
enter into the question of the precise meaning to be attached 
to the words ‘ external affairs’ in the Constitution Act ; 
but I concur in the view of the Federal Government that 
the special provisions of Article 75 in respect to matters 
‘arising under any treaty ’, and matters ‘ affecting Consuls 
or other representatives of other countries ’, imply that such 
questions are of special federal concern. 
I regret that your ministers should regard it as humiliating 
to them that communications on federal matters should pass 
through the Federal Government. That feeling does not 
appear to be shared by the other State Governments, and 
I am confident that when your Government have further 
considered the position, they will loyally accept what was 
undoubtedly the will of Parliament and of the people of 
Australia. 
The Federal Government also argued at great length in 
minutes by the Attorney-General of November 12, 1902, and 
by the Prime Minister of November 21, 1902, in favour of 
the view that the proper mode of correspondence was 
through the Governor-General! On the other hand, the 
t Parl, Pap., Cd. 1587, pp. 15-22,