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father of us all, and, sitting as I do so close to him, I hope that I may learn from him how to acquire a title to Prime-Ministership by prescription. There are a vast number of people looking to this Conference and looking to us to show some results. I feel sure that we are all imbued with one idea, and that is to elo everything we can to achieve the results which are expected, of us, and I am sure that we are all ready to make any sacrifice that may lead to those results. OPENING SPEECH BY HIS HIGHNESS THE MAHARAJAH OF ALWAR, ON BEHALF OF THE INDIAN DELEGATION. Lord Peel: Prime Minister, I will ask my colleague, His Highness the Maharajah of Alwar, to res ply tor the Indian delegation. The Maharajah of Alwar : Prime Minister of Great Britain, your Lordships and gentlemen, I come to-day as the nominated representative of the Princes of India. You know that they rule over one-third of the Indian Empire, and most of them are connected by treaties and engagements with the Britisli Crown ; but they are perhaps best known for their united loyalty and attachment to the Throne. To-day, however, I am privileged to speak in the name of the three hundred millions of peoples of my country. I speak on behalf of one of the oldest civilizations within the Empire, but who in the race of self-government haves still much leeway to make. In the name of India, I thank you, Prime Minister, for the very felicitous terms in which you have extended your welcome to us on behalf of the British Cabinet. I thank you, and through you those on whose behalf you speak, for the expressions of good will for my country. I thank you all, friends, for the hopes that have been, expressed that the Conference may achieve harmonious results. I can only say that I sincerely share that hope myself, and, in conclusion, I trust that it will be permissible for me to thank the Prime Minister for the kind remarks he has made about myself and my State. T appreciate them particularly as I take them to be compliments paid to my Order, through mo as their representative. I will only speak about one word more. On such air occasion as this I ask myself, What is to be our attitude ? Surely it is on this factor that the ultimate results of our Conference will mainly depend. The answer I receive to my question is in unhesitating terms. Surely, is not this Conference composed of brother delegates from the sister Dominions ? We assemble round the hub of the Empire as members of the family of nations, all united in one cause—namely, the uplift of the British Empire ; all cemented together by one foree —namely, the British Crown. Gentlemen, the recent Great War has left behind its aftermath, to which the Prime Minister lias given very lucid expression. Wounds and sores are still festering in many parts of the world. With a little sacrifice, with a littles toleration, with a little understanding, all this world can, I believe —and firmly so —still be maelo a playground for God's children. With a little willingness to give—-and it does not require much willingness to take— mountains can. certainly be converted into molehills. On the completion erf this Conference, I ask myself, Would we rather say that we were able to achieve and gain this or that for our individual country, or that we were in the privileged position of being able to subscribe, however little or great it was, for the unity of the British Empire 1 It will be a proud moment indeed if we can subscribe to the latter sentiments eventually. Ido not mean to say that there will not be questions during our discussion and deliberations on which there may bes differences of opinion, or on which it will be our responsibility to seek gain for our individual territories and nationalities. But in carrying out that responsibility all we have to remember is that we have something greater to look to than our own country—namely, the British Empire ; and. that there is something even greater than the British Empire-namely, humanity. Why is it, then, that we wish to subscribe our little quota to make that British. Empires, which is already great, if possible esven greater ? It is because we like to believe that it will be with every individual component part working out its own destiny in mutual harmony with others, and even with all our different nationalities, creeds, castes, and religions existing--that the British Empire is going to fulfil its great object of leading humanity, not only towards peace, not only towards right understanding, but ultimately towards the great Divinity of which, after all, each one of us is but an a.ctive spark. That at least is my idea for the attitude at our Conference ; to fulfil it shall be my endeavour.

APPENDIX 11. STATEMENT BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES AS TO THE COLONIES, PROTECTORATES, AND MANDATED TERRITORIES. 3rd October, 1923. The Duke of Devonshire : I understand that it is the general wish of the Conference that, as Secretary of State for the Colonies, I should give a brief account of the manner in which the responsibilities esntrusted to the Colonial Office for the colonies and protectorates have been discharged during

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