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Empire belongs to the Imperial Government, is emphatically of opinion that such steps should be immediately taken as will most conveniently and effectively secure the incorporation with the British Empire of so much of New Guinea and the small islands adjacent thereto as is not claimed by the Government of the Netherlands. It was then moved that No. 3 of the Committee's Besolutions stand No. 4 of the Eesolutions of the Convention, which was carried with certain verbal amendments, viz.:— 4. That although the understanding arrived at in 1878 between Great Britain and France, recognizing the independence of the New Hebrides, appears to preclude this Convention from making any recommendation with respect to those islands inconsistent with that understanding, the Convention urges upon Her Majesty's Government the extreme desirability that such understanding should give place to some more definite engagement, which shall secure them against falling under any foreign dominion ; at the same time the Convention trusts that Her Majesty's Government will avail itself of any opportunity that may arise for negotiating with the Government of France, with the object of securing the control of those Islands in the interests of Australasia. It was then moved that No. 4 of the Committee's Resolutions be adopted as No. 5 of the Eesolutions of the Convention, which was agreed to, viz.:—■ 5. That the Governments represented at the Convention undertake to submit and recommend to their respective Parliaments such measures for permanent appropriation as may be necessary for defraying, in proportion to population, such share of the cost incurred in giving effect to the foregoing resolutions as Her Majesty's Government, having regard to the relative importance of Imperial and Australasian interests, may deem fair and reasonable. It was then moved that No. 5 of the Committee's Eesolutions be adopted as No. G of the Eesolutions of the Convention, viz.: —■ G. That the Convention protests in the strongest manner against the declared intention of the Government of Franco to transport largo numbers of relapsed criminals to the French possessions in the Pacific, and urges Her Majesty's Government to use every means in its power to prevent the adoption of a course so disastrous to the interests of Australasia and the Pacific Islands. It was then moved that No. 6 of the Committee's Eesolutions be adopted as No. 7 of the Eesolutions of the Convention, which was carried, viz.: — 7. That the Convention expresses a confident hope that no penal settlement for the reception of European criminals will long continue to exist in the Pacific; and invites Her Majesty's Government to make to the Government of France such serious representations on this subject as may be deemed expedient. It was also moved that No. 7 of the Committee's Eesolutions be adopted as No. 8 of the Eesolutions of the Convention.—Agreed to, viz.:— 8. That these resolutions be communicated to the Eight Honorable the Secretary of State for the Colonies, together with a request that they may be submitted for Her Majesty's Gracious consideration, and for such action as Her Majesty may think proper to direct, with a view to giving effect to the earnest desire of her loyal subjects in Australasia. The preamble to the Eesolutions was then considered, and adopted, as follows: — " This Convention, representing the Governments of all the British Colonies of Australasia, unanimously resolves." Mr. Dalley, as Chairman of the Committee appointed to prepare Resolutions to form a basis for constituting a Federal Council of Australasia, brought up the Eeport of such Committee, which was ordered to be printed and circulated. The Conference adjourned at 4 o'clock.

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