1502 IMPERIAL UNITY [PART VIII
Ward’s motion for publicity was unanimously rejected by
his colleagues! and in 1907 he himself had not favoured it.
Of the topics discussed those of political importance were
(a) the question of the Imperial Council and the reorganiza-
tion of the Colonial Office; (b) the questions of foreign
politics arising from the Declaration of London and the
desire of the Dominions to be freed from inconvenient
treaties ; (c) the question of British Indians, especially as
connected with merchant shipping ; (4) the Imperial Court
of Appeal; (e) Naturalization.
Less immediately political were the discussions as to (f)
the improvement of commercial relations, (g) the All-Red
Route, and (4) emigration and labour exchanges. Another
group of topics was (¢) proposals for postal and telegraph
reform, and efforts were made to secure (j) reciprocity as to
income-tax and death-duties. The attempt to secure (k)
either decimal coinage or the metric system of weights and
measures was not seriously pressed. On the other hand,
() shipping conferences and rebates evoked an animated
discussion. The usual proposals for (m) uniformity in law,
including the topics of alien immigration exclusion, com-
panies, copyright, patents, trade marks, and accident
compensation, were hardly debated, though more progress
was made with (n) the question of reciprocal legislation as to
deserted and destitute persons. The advisability of extending
the (o) recognition of Colonial and Imperial judgements was
asserted, (p) co-operation as to international exhibitions was
agreed to in principle, and a far-reaching scheme of (g)
reciprocal legislation as to conspiracy was allowed to drop.
Resolutions were also agreed to as to (r) Suez Canal dues and
(s) the celebration of the King’s birthday, and Mr. Fisher
General Botha, Hon. F. 8. Malan (Minister of Education), and Hon. Sir D.
de V. Graaff (Minister of Public Works, Posts, and Telegraphs), Union of
South Africa ; Hon. Sir E. P. Morris and Hon. R. Watson (Colonial Secre-
tary), Newfoundland. The Secretaries were Mr. (now Sir) H. W. Just,
Mr. W. A. Robinson (Senior Assistant Secretary), and Dr. A. Berriedale
Keith (Junior Assistant Secretary).
t Cd. 5745, pp. 28-32.
