F.—B.

Enclosure 1 in No. 38. The " Eighty Club " was originally formed in the year 1880 with the object of promoting Liberal education. To-day the Prime Minister, the lit. Hon. Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman, is a member, and no less than eighteen Cabinet offices are filled by members of the club. It may therefore very properly be regarded as an association of the greatest political influence. A few months ago the " Eighty Club " invited Sir Sandford Fleming, a member of the Ottawa Board of Trade, to address a club house dinner on the subject referred to. His address, with other documents, is now issued with the compliments of the committee of the club. This in itself indicates progress in the movement. Possibly it may open up the prospect of the Liberal party now in power in the United Kingdom recognising the proposal as in absolute harmony with its Imperial policy. Cecil Bethune. Board of Trade, Ottawa, 26th December, 1006.

Enclosure 2 in No. 38. The Empire Cables and a Great Intelligence Union. The accompanying documents, issued in England under the auspices of the " Eighty Club," afford much satisfaction to the Board of Trade of the City of Ottawa. This Board, in common with other commercial bodies, has for some years taken an active interest in the proposal to establish a chain of State-owned cable telegraphs encircling the globe as a distinct means of promoting the commercial prosperity and political unity of the Empire. In 1903, 1904, and 1905 this Board opened communications by letter with every known organized body representing the interests of British trade in all parts of the world, and by this means obtained a general expression of opinion, affirming the necessity of an Imperial system of cables, to remove as far as possible all restrictions on free intercourse. The Ottawa Board of Trade therefore cordially welcomes so great an ally as the " Eighty Club " in the furtherance of a cause of so much general importance.

Sub-enclosure to Enclosure 2 in No. 38. The Establishment of a Great Imperial Intelligence Union as a Means of promoting the Consolidation of the Empire. (An Address delivered by Sir Sandford Fleming before the " Eighty Club " on 20th July, 1906.) Lord Lucas and Members of the " Eighty Club," — It is a high gratification for me to be present here this evening as the guest of this influential club, and to be asked to express my views on a subject which I have long earnestly considered; a subject which I venture to think is of the greatest interest to every British community. The proposal which I am privileged to explain, as briefly as possible, to the " Eighty Club," is not altogether new; but, heretofore, efforts have been confined largely to the circulation of letters and documents designed to educate the public mind on what may be regarded as a new subject. It is not a party question. No Government has, as yet, been definitely committed to it in its entirety. The attempts made to educate have, in some parts of the Empire, and especially in Canada, met with a measure of success. I hold in my hand a sessional paper which, within the last two or three weeks, has been issued by the Canadian Parliament. In this parliamentary return much detailed information is set forth: it contains sixty-three pages, which I would greatly wish to condense into a few sentences, in order that I might bring the matter to your attention this evening. Unlike previous proposals which have been made, such as those for creating an Imperial Council or an Advisory Council, schemes of Imperial Federation, or other great schemes for the organization of the Empire, the present modest suggestion is very simple and very practical, and, if I may venture to say so, I think it has also the merit of being characterized by a measure of common-sense. This much can be said of it: that it is entirely non-party and non-jingo; and, while quite humble and unobjectionable in its pretensions, a little consideration will satisfy you that it must eventually come to be regarded as far-reaching in its aims, and that it cannot fail in the long run to bring about results of the very highest importance. Already many persons have formed the opinion that tha documents issued by the Canadian Parliament furnish evidence that the proposal is far better calculated to promote the commercial interests and advance the unity of the whole British people than any other scheme yet promulgated. It is made perfectly obvious from such evidence that the time is not ripe for more ambitious proposals, that premature attempts to put them in force might do great harm, and that no cut-and-dried scheme for the organization of the Empire will be found acceptable to large masses of those mutually concerned; that the very first step is to adopt some effective means by and through which the several communities of British people around the globe shall become better acquainted with each other and more familiar with matters relating to their mutual well-being. Organization to be enduring must be based on mutual sympathy and confidence, which, again, must spring from mutual knowledge. What is really required is a comprehensive means of dispelling ignorance and establishing mutual relationship. The first requisite is an adequate service for disseminating useful knowledge throughout the Empire, a well-designed service for the mutual enlightenment and mutual advantage of all classes in each separate British community.

4—P. 8.

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