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last occasion, was the dean of the Dominion Ministers. His sound common-sense, his wide human sympathies, and his sturdy individuality impressed all who met him. We are looking forward to making the closer acquaintance of his successor, Mr. Coates, of General Hertzog, Mr. Monroe, the representatives of India, and the other members of this Conference. The representatives of His Majesty's Government of Great Britain are already old friends of most of us. May I, in this regard, express our deep appreciation to the Prime Minister of the heartiness of the welcome which he has extended to us all at this Conference ? Value of Imperial Conference. The rapid changes in personnel indicate the need and the value of such gatherings as this, which make it possible for those directly responsible for the government of the several parts of the Commonwealth to learn something of the special problems, the difficulties, and opportunities of the other British communities, and to learn something also of the personal equation in their governing. Brief cabled reports of what some Minister on the other side of the globe has said or done will be interpreted in truer perspective once we have met and exchanged views in frank and friendly discussion. Improvement in International Situation since 1923. Mr. Baldwin has given us a very lucid review of developments since the last Conference, of the historical significance of the Conference itself, and an outline of the tasks we are now called upon to discuss. Beyond question the international horizon has cleared very greatly since 1923 ; a distinct advance has been made towards both political and economic stability in most countries ; and, if some serious industrial and financial difficulties still remain, both within and without the Commonwealth, we may be encouraged to hope that a solution will soon be found. I need not at this stage comment upon any of the questions of special interest to members of the British Commonwealth to which Mr. Baldwin referred, as they will come before us in detail later. I may simply say that I believe that, approaching them with good will and a realization of their vital significance, we may well hope to find ways and means of advancing them distinctly toward a settlement to our common good. Diversity of Empire. In this historic room are gathered representatives from every continent and all the Seven Seas, owing allegiance to a common King. Such a gathering makes one realize how great an error it would be to overlook in our plans and forecasts either the differences in situation and outlook of these several nations or the deep and lasting things they share in common. This diversity is sometimes left out of account in the habit we have formed of speaking of all the countries of the Empije whose representatives sit on this side of the table under the collective term of " the Dominions," as if they were not individual countries so much as examples of a type, and the differences between them were unimportant in comparison with the distinction between them all and the Mother-country. And yet a moment's reflection indicates how distinct they are in historical background, in racial composition, in economic organization, in neighbours and neighbourhood relations, and perhaps increasingly in national character. On the other hand, our very presence here indicates that we share in common many great problems, many commanding opportunities, many proud memories—the moving ceremony we witnessed this morning commemorates the greatest of those common memories—and, not least, common standards of public life and private conduct. In more senses than one, we speak the same language. In countless ways, in trade, in markets, in migration, one part needs and complements the other. I should like to join the Prime Minister in his appreciation of the work of the Imperial War Graves Commission and to express our gratification at the establishment of the Endowment Fund. Through this unprecedented experiment in world organization which we call the Commonwealth or Community of British Nations, one-fourth of the world's peoples are linked in friendship and in peace. It is inevitable, simply because this great experiment is without precedent or parallel, that sometimes we find difficulty in making foreign countries understand our position, or in wholly understanding it ourselves. But perhaps in the next few weeks we may be able to explore methods for a clearer understanding of our political relationships, including the problem of foreign policy in its several aspects, and methods as well for closer co-operation in economic matters and fuller utilization of the challenging opportunity the Commonwealth presents to each and all of its members. It will then remain to bring such outcome before the several Governments we represent, and in some cases before our Parliaments and peoples. Message to Their Majesties. As a first step in our proceedings it is especially fitting that we should express our respectful homage to Their Majesties, and I would therefore ask that I might have the honour of moving the following resolution* : — " The Prime Ministers and other representatives of the Governments of the British Empire assembled in Conference, at their first meeting, and as their first official act, desire to express their respectful greetings and fidelity to the King, and their earnest hope that Your Majesty and Her Majesty the Queen may long be spared to strengthen the ties of affection and devotion which unite the peoples of the British Commonwealth under the Crown."

* The resolution was carried unanimously.

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