CHAP, IIT] THE CONFERENCE OF 1911 1501
more and more prominently forward by the tariff negotiations
which have recently taken place with the German, Italian,
Belgian, Netherlands, and Japanese Consuls-General or
Consuls.
On the question of naturalization, however, Sir Wilfrid
Laurier indicated as a difficulty the fact that while by
naturalization in Canada an American became a Canadian
citizen, he did not when outside the limits of Canada become
a British citizen at all, and this position was an unfortunate
one, as tending to accentuate the distinction between Cana-
dian citizenship and membership of the Empire.
$ 4. Tue PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONFERENCE !
The Conference held twelve meetings from May 23 to
June 20. Thirteen ministers attended, and for the first
time the Prime Minister presided almost throughout the
proceedings, The business character of the proceedings
was also increased by the strict adherence to the rule of
excluding from the Conference all Imperial ministers who
were not actually required to attend for purposes of discus-
sion. The Secretary of State for the Colonies, of course,
attended all the meetings and took the chair in the absence
of the Prime Minister ; on one occasion, in Mr. Harcourt’s
unavoidable absence, Sir W. Laurier took his place, There
were also present, on various occasions, the Secretaries of
State for Home Affairs, Foreign Affairs, War, and India, the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Lord Chancellor, the Presi-
dents of the Board of Trade and the Local Government Board,
and the Postmaster-General.
The proceedings were, as in 1907, private, but a daily
précis of the Conference was published, and a full report
appeared in July after revision by the members. Sir Joseph
* For the précis, see Parl. Pap., Cd. 5741; for the Report, Cd. 5745 ; for
the papers presented, Cd. 5746-1, 5746-2.
* Right Hon, Sir W. Laurier, Hon. Sir F, Borden (Minister of Defence), and
Hon. L. P. Brodeur (Minister of Marine) represented Canada; Hon. A. Fisher,
the late Hon. E. L. Batchelor (Minister of External Affairs), and Hon. G. F.
Pearce (Minister of Defence), Australia ; Right Hon, Sir J, Ward and
Hon, Dr. (now Sir J.) Findlay (Attorney-General), New Zealand : Right Hon.
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