1172 ADMINISTRATION AND LEGISLATION [PART V 
a controversy on points of detail, as to the tariff arrangements 
of the Colonies. On the contrary, believing, as they do, that 
such controversies can scarcely be carried on without leading 
to misunderstandings and differences, they are anxious that 
their decision on the questions now before them should be 
based upon broad principles of policy, so as to avoid the 
irritation which is sure to arise from constant demands on 
the one side and concessions on the other. But after an 
attentive consideration of the various documents submitted 
to them, Her Majesty's Government are of opinion that, 
looking to the gravity of the issues raised by the Colonial 
Governments, involving, as they do, the commercial relations 
of the whole Empire, and even the right of the Imperial 
Government to conclude treaties binding the Colonies, they 
ought not to come to a final decision without further friendly 
discussion, inasmuch as it appears to them to be required, 
in order that the nature and extent of the questions which 
have to be determined may be fully understood, both in this 
country and in the Colonies. I will, therefore, proceed to 
examine the demands which are now put forward. 
The resolutions signed by the delegates from New South 
Wales, Tasmania, South Australia, and Victoria, claim that 
the Australian Colonies shall have the right to make arrange- 
ments with each other for commercial reciprocity, that no 
treaty shall be concluded by the Imperial Government inter- 
fering with the exercise of such right ; and that Imperial 
interference with inter-colonial fiscal legislation shall abso- 
lutely cease. 
The resolutions signed by the delegates from New South 
Wales, Tasmania, and South Australia, enter into fuller 
details. They maintain the right of the Australian Legisla- 
tures to control their fiscal policy as between themselves, 
without interference on the part of the Imperial Government ; 
they express the desire that the connexion between this 
country and her Colonies in Australia may long continue ; 
they deny that any treaty can be constitutionally made 
which treats those Colonies as foreign countries ; they main- 
tain that foreign Governments ought not to be allowed to 
become parties to stipulations respecting the trade of one 
part of the Empire with another, whether by land or sea ; 
they declare that, if the Article in the Treaty with the 
Zollverein, referred to in my above-mentioned dispatch, 
were interpreted so as to prevent the Australian Colonies 
from imposing differential duties as between themselves and 
foreign countries, those Colonies would claim to be considered