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In August, 1903, Mr. Brassey attended, as a Delegate of the London Chamber, the great Congress of Chambers of Commerce of the Empire at Montreal, over which Lord Brassey presided. The first resolution, which was unanimously passed with great enthusiasm, after it had been modified to meet the objections of the French Canadian Delegates, ran as follows:—

'That this Congress hereby affirms the principle that it is the duty of the self-governing Colonies to participate in the cost of defence of the Empire, but the Colonies claim the privilege of keeping their own initiative as to the nature and mode of help which they may agree to offer.'

The interest of the Congress was mainly concentrated on the question of Preferential Trade within the Empire. After two days' discussion, the following resolution was unanimously agreed to:—

'It is resolved that in the opinion of this Congress the bonds of the British Empire will be materially strengthened, and a union of the various parts of His Majesty's Dominions greatly consolidated, by the adoption of a commercial policy based upon the principle of mutual benefit, whereby each component part of the Empire would receive a substantial advantage in trade as the result of its national relationship, due consideration being given to the fiscal and industrial needs of the component parts of the Empire.

'That this Congress urges upon His Majesty's Government the appointment by them of a special Commission, composed of representatives of Great Britain and her Colonies and India, to consider the possibility of thus increasing and strengthening the trade relations between the different parts of the Empire, and the trading facilities within the Empire and with foreign countries.' 159