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League in Canada and Australia, and other bodies. The scheme submitted was in outline as follows: — " It is proposed to establish a system of Empire-girdling, State-owned cable telegraphs in an unbroken chain around the globe. These cables are designed to connect, telegraphically, in the most complete manner the several groups of self-governing 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 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 an 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 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 we feel warranted in saying that it is regarded with much favour. The Canadian Press Association lias with the greatest unanimity passed resolutions in its favour, and 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 established 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. " There remain divisions 3 and 4 to complete the whole series of Empire cables. The principle of State ownership and State partnership having been adopted in respect to the Pacific, the extension of the principle to this second half of the globe-girdling system would seem to follow naturally." As the second division has been established at the expense of the six Governments mentioned, we have the means of ascertaining with a near approach to accuracy the cost of the three remaining divisions. Based on these data, a liberal estimate goes to show that an additional sum of £5,000,000 would establish and completely equip the whole circle of Empire cables. The Board of Trade of the City of Ottawa does not stand alone in the efforts which it has made or in the conclusions which it has reached. Beside the many Chambers of Commerce in Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, India, South Africa, West Indies, and elsewhere, which have placed themselves on record in a manner which cannot be misunderstood, a long array of men of eminence and learning have declared themselves strongly in favour of the proposal. Moreover, the Board of Trade of the City of Ottawa has much satisfaction in welcoming a new ally in the endeavour to awaken attention to the matter and in educating the public mind concerning it. One of the most influential associations in England—the "Eighty Club"— issued a few months ago a pamphlet of thirty pages, the object of which was to impart to the people of the three Kingdoms a true perception of the necessity for action, and the immense advantages to result from the application of the principle of connecting the several units of the great British Family of Nations by the best possible means of communication, a principle now indorsed by the Conference of Premiers of the Empire. The most remarkable testimony in favour of the proposal is brought forward by a member of the Board of Trade of the City of Ottawa in a communication to the Colonial Secretary. It appears in Sessional Paper No. 67 (1906) [Enclosure 1 in No. 103], presented to Parliament by the Canadian Government. It is doubtful if it would be possible to find higher testimony in favour of any proposition. It consists of the individual testimony of over fifty well-known eminent Canadians, embracing Lieutenant-Governors of Provinces, Presidents of Universities, Judges of Supreme Courts, statesmen, and clergymen of every denomination. In this particular matter they are in remarkable agreement, and it might indeed be difficult to find any other subject on which they would be so cordially and emphatically agreed. This half-hundred of some of the fore-