1478 IMPERIAL UNITY [PART VIII 
that of the Imperial Council, which they apprehend would be 
interpreted as marking a step distinctly in advance of the 
position hitherto attained in the discussion of the relations 
between the Mother Country and the Colonies. As the 
Committee understand the phrase, a Conference is a more 
or less unconventional gathering for informal discussion of 
public questions, continued, it may be, from time to time, 
as circumstances external to itself may render expedient, but 
possessing no faculty or power of binding action. The 
assembly of Colonial ministers which met in 1887, 1897, and 
1902 appear to the Committee to fulfil these conditions. 
The term Council, on the other hand, indicates, in the view 
of your Excellency’s ministers, a more formal assemblage, 
possessing an advisory and deliberative character, and in 
conjunction with the word ‘Imperial ® suggesting a per- 
manent institution which, endowed with a continuous life, 
might eventually come to be regarded as an encroachment 
upon the full measure of autonomous legislative and ad- 
ministrative power now enjoyed by all the self-governing 
Colonies. 
The Committee, while not wishing to be understood as 
advocating any such change at the present time, incline to 
the opinion that the title ‘ Imperial Conference ’ might be 
less open to the objections they have indicated than the 
designation proposed by His Majesty’s Government. 
As regards the second suggestion of His Majesty's Govern- 
ment, the Committee are sensible that such a Commission 
would greatly facilitate the work of the Conference, and at 
the same time enhance the dignity and importance of that 
assembly. They cannot, however, wholly divest themselves 
of the idea that such a Commission might conceivably inter- 
fere with the working of responsible government. While for 
this reason the Committee would not at present be prepared 
to adopt the proposal for the appointment of a permanent 
Commission, they feel that such a proposal emanating from 
His Majesty’s Government should be very fully inquired 
into, and the Canadian representatives at the next Conference, 
whenever it may be held, would be ready to join the repre- 
sentatives of the sister Colonies in giving the whole matter 
their most careful consideration. 
The Secretary of State in view of this minute decided to let 
matters stand over for discussion at the next Conference, 
which was fixed for 1907, as it was found impossible con- 
veniently to arrange an earlier date. The Government of