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2. The President and Council, under instructions from the Board, beg leave to submit for consideration the explanations given in Appendix A. The facts and arguments therein brought forward will be found to appeal strongly to every man who has the well-being of the British people at heart. The deliverance of the Fifth Congress of the Chamber of Commerce of the Empire, held in Montreal in August, 1903, will be found in Appendix B. The deliberate and frequently repeated opinion of the Empire League in Canada will be found in Appendix C. 3. The President and Council invite expressions of general concurrence in this great Imperial movement; they especially ask the co-operation of every Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade throughout the Empire. To make co-operation effective it is suggested that individual Chambers may express their views by resolution; such taken in concrete will have a powerful influence on the several Governments concerned. 4. The co-operation of other bodies or individuals will be cordially welcomed. 5. The President and Council respectfully ask that they may be informed with respect to ail action taken, and that copies of resolutions may be transmitted to the President or Secretary. In the name and by the authority of the Board of Trade of the capital of the Dominion of Canada, we ask all concerned to assist in foiming public opinion in favour of the speedy completion of the scheme of Empire cables. We have, ike, John R. Reid, President. Cecil Bethune, Secretary.

Appendices. A. Explanatory Note, furnished at the request of the Ottawa Board of Trade, for general information on the subject of the Empire Cables, by Sir Sandford Fleming, K.C.M.G. B. Resolution adopted by the Fifth Congress of the Chamber of Commerce of the Empire, held in Montreal, Canada, in August, 1903. C. Minute adopted by the British Empire League in Canada, at the annual meeting on the 16th February, 1904. Appendix A. — The Empire Cables. (Explanatory Note, furnished at the request of the Ottawa Board of Trade, by Sir Sandfort' Fleming, K.C.M.G.) The term " Empire cables " is understood to mean a system of Empire-girdling State-owned cable telegraphs, established in an unbroken chain around the globe. '' The Empire cables '' are designed to connect, telegraphically, in the most complete manner, the several groups of selfgoverning British communities in Europe, America, Australasia, Asia, and Africa. It is held that the Empire cables should be State-owned for the following and other reasons —viz.: — 1. In order that they may be wholly removed from the control of companies, whose chief object is to make profits by maintaining as high rates as possible on messages. 2. In order that the cost of telegraphing throughout the Empire may be reduced to a minimum. 3. In order that the British people, geographically separated by the oceans, may be brought within touch by a means of intercourse as free and as unrestricted as possible. 4. In order that the Governments of all the self-governing British peoples within the Empire may be enabled to confer with each other at all times, with the greatest facility, on matters of mutual concern. 5. In order that no portion of these great lines of communication may come under foreign influence, or be used to the detriment of British interests. The Empire cables are, for greater security and effectiveness, designed to be laid in deep water, and to touch or traverse only British territory. This new Imperial service, forming one unbroken chain around the globe under one control, would provide a double means of telegraphing —that is to say, easterly as well as westerly, between any one British State and any other British State. By the removal of every restriction possible, it would stimulate commercial, social, and political intercourse between the several parts, and tend in every way to strengthen the Empire. This electric bond of Empire has for some time been projected. It is the outcome of the first Colonial Conference held in London in 1887, and the second, held in Ottawa in 1894. It may be described as consisting of four divisions, viz.: — 1. From the United Kingdom to the Pacific, embracing a cable across the Atlantic and landlines through Canada. 2. A cable across the Pacific, from Canada to New Zealand and Australia, with land-lines through Australia to the Indian Ocean. 3. A cable from Australia across the Indian Ocean to South Africa, with a branch from Cocos Island to India. 4. A cable from Cape Town to the United Kingdom via Ascension, the West Indies, and Bermuda, with a branch to Canada. The proposal to establish the first of these four divisions has for some time been before the Canadian public, and I feel warranted in saying that it is regarded with much favour. It cannot be doubted that in the event of the Canadian Government proceeding to nationalise the telegraph service between London and Vancouver it would be accepted with general satisfaction throughout the Dominion. The second division is an accomplished fact, having been successfully carried out under a partnership arrangement between six British Governments —viz., the Home Government, the Canadian Government, the Governments of New Zealand, New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland.