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A.—2

StE,— American Embassy. London, 9th March, 1911. In the River and Harbour Act, approved by the President on the 25th June, 1910, the Congress of the United States requested the Secretary of State to extend to the Permanent International Association of Navigation Congresses an invitation to hold the next meeting of the Congress in the United States. In virtue of the authority conferred, by this law, the American members of the association, at the meeting of the Permanent Commission at Brussels in July last, extended an invitation to the Association to hold its next congress in the United States. This invitation, the Department is informed, was unanimously accepted, and it was determined by the Permanent Commission to hold the next congress at Philadelphia in the year 1912. The Government of the United States is very desirous that all of the countries who are contributing members of the association, as well as such of their colonies and dependencies as are likewise contributing members, should be represented at the Twelfth International Congress of Navigation, which is to be held at Philadelphia in the year 1912. I have, therefore, the honour, under instructions from my Government, to convey to His Majesty's Government, including such of its colonies and dependencies as are contributing members to the International Association of Navigation Congresses, a cordial invitation from the Government of the United States to be represented at the Twelfth International Congress of Navigation, which is to be held at Philadelphia during the. year 1912, at a date later to be fixed, and of which I shall not fail promptly to advise you. [ am also instructed to invite your special attention to the fact that each Government is at liberty to appoint other delegates than its representatives on the Permanent Commission, provided that its 'delegation shall not exceed the total number of delegates to which it is entitled by the regulations of the association, which prescribes the number in accordance with the total amount of the annual subscription. T have, &c, The Ttight Hon. Sir Edward Grey, Bart., &c. William Phillips.

No. 3. New Zealand, No. 127. My Lokd, — Downing Street, 4th April, 1911. I have the honour to state, for the information of your Ministers, that the rate of postage on letters from the whole of Rhodesia to the United Kingdom and all parts of the Biitish Empire where the Imperial penny-postage scheme has been adopted has been reduced to Id. per half-ounce as fiom the Ist instant. The Rhodesian authorities will pass without charge letters prepaid at the penny rate received from other Biitish possessions. T have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 4. New Zealand, No. 129. My Lord, — Downing Street, 6th April, 1911. With reference to my predecessor's despatch, No. 218, of the 16th December, 1909, I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a letter from the War Office, communicating certain proposals put forward by the Committee of Administration of King Edward's Horse (The King's Oversea Dominions Regiment), with a view to enabling a member of King Edward's Horse, or any of the allied regiment in the forces of the oversea dominions, in the event of a change of residence, to transfer from one regiment to another without breaking the continuity othis service. I should be glad to be furnished with observations on the proposals. T have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c. Enclosures. Sin,— War Office, London S W., 21st March, 1911. i am commanded by the Army Council to state, for the information of Mr. Secretary Harcourt, that they have received form the Committee of Administration of King Edward's Horse (The King's Oversea Dominions Regiment) certain proposals, set forth in detail on the enclosed sheet, which have been put forward with a view to enabling a member of King Edward's Horse, or any of the allied regiments in the forces of the oversea dominions, in the event of a change of residence, to transfer from one regiment to another without breaking the continuity of his service.

A.-1,1913, No. 17.