1500 IMPERIAL UNITY [PART VIII
forward any subjects for discussion was that in his opinion
there was sufficient work left over from the last Conference
to occupy fully the time of the new Conference, and that
his Government had therefore thought it advisable not to
bring forward new subjects, which would diminish the chance
of the old questions still in debate being successfully disposed
of. He stated that his Government still adhered to their
determination to secure, if possible, the carrying out of the
project of the All-Red Route. So far as communications
across the Atlantic were concerned, he did not doubt that the
matter could be arranged ; the difficulty lay in the question
of the Pacific and in the attitude of Australia towards the
scheme. So far it did not appear that any scheme which
could conveniently be produced would shorten appreciably
the time taken between England and Australia, and unless
this could be done it was doubtful whether the Australian
Government could be persuaded to spend money on the
service. Moreover, their closer commercial relations with
New Zealand rendered Australia more unwilling to do any-
thing to facilitate trade between the two Dominions; but he
trusted that it would be found possible on the occasion of the
meeting of the ministers at the Imperial Conference to arrange
for some degree of preferential trade between Canada and
Australia, a step which might be assumed to result in the
increase of the willingness of Australia to assist in the estab-
lishment of better communications between the Common-
wealth and Canada.
On this occasion Sir Wilfrid Laurier made no mention? of
a question which he had raised previously? namely the
question whether some recognition should not be given of the
quasi-diplomatic status enjoyed in Canada and the other
Dominions by Consuls-General and Consuls of the great
Powers. The point has been discussed at considerable length
in Canada, especially in connexion with the question of
precedence. Consuls at present have no precedence of right,
as they have no diplomatic status, and it has been brought
' The subject was not mentioned at the Conference at all.
t See Canada House of Commons Debates, December 7, 1910, p. 978.
