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/ 
 
 STATEMENT RESPECTING THE NAUTICAL SURVEY 
 IX CONXEOTION WITH THE PACIFIC CABLE. 
 
 From thu lirst conception of a trans-piicifio cable it was con- 
 sidered iiecoasary to obtain a proper nanticul survey ; this was 
 cepecially the case wlien stateincntH were made in certain 
 (piartera that snoli an undertaking could not be carried out 
 owing to insujierable difHculties alleged to exist on the route. 
 In order to invest the project with public confidence it waa 
 deemed exceedingly desirable that the survey should be under- 
 taken by the British Admiralty as being the liighest nautical 
 authority in existence. Application was accordingly made at 
 various times through the proper channel to the Admiralty to 
 have the survey carried out by them. 
 
 At the Colonial Conference of 1887, Sir Alexaniler Campbell 
 moved a resolution, setting forth " that the connection of ('anada 
 with Australia b^' direct subnif.rine telegraph across the Pacific 
 is a project of high impoi-tance to the Empire, and every 
 doubt as to its practicability should without delay be set at rest 
 by an exhaustive survey." In submitting the resolution Sir 
 Alexander at some length dwelt upon the importance of the 
 cable and the necessity of a survey. He likewise explained 
 the repeated efforts which had been made to have it accom- 
 plished by the Admiralty. Among other things he said : — 
 
 " Canada proposed two or three years ago to assist in a 
 survey. The difficulty which the Admiralty urged was that 
 they had no vessel to spare, and therefore they could not do it. 
 
 " Canada had several vessels of her own, and she found a 
 suitable one, the ' Alert,' an oxecllent ship for the purpose, 
 which she had been using in connection with observations 
 which she had been making for a couple of years, as to the 
 time Hudson's Bay was open every year for navigation. 
 
 " She offered the ' Alert ' for the jmrposcs of the survey, 
 and in that way she seemed to have answered completely the 
 difficulty raised by the Admiralty. 
 
 " Canada wrote over to the Admiralty telling them that she 
 had a suitable vessel ; and then tliey would not do it at all. 
 Then we offered to pay half ihc expense. Still the Admiralty 
 would not (111 it, and there the matter stopped." 
 
 After the resolution moved by Sir Alexander Campbell was 
 unanimously jiassed and the Conl'erenee closed, the following 
 letter was addressed to the Right Honourable Sir Henry 
 Holland (now Lord Knutsford), Secretary of State for the 
 Colonies. 
 
 "London, May lOth, 1887. 
 
 " Sm. — During the discussion on the subjeet of the postal 
 and telegraphie lommuiiieatioiis of the Empire, before the 
 Colonial Conference, the iiuestiiin was raised as to the practi- 
 ealiility of gulimcrging cables in the Pacific Ocean so as to 
 connect Canada and Australia telegraphically, and as all doubts 
 on the nucstion should be removed with as little delay as 
 
pnjisilde, a tlii>r.m>rli aiitl oxliaiwtive nautical examination 
 slioukl be at onic made." 
 
 "Tlie undersigned, tlicref'oio, on bclialf of the Governments 
 thej- represent, respeitt'ully request that Her Majesty's Govern- 
 ment will eauKe such survey tn he made." 
 
 This letter was sitrned by the following gentlemen, com- 
 prising all the delegates to the Conference then in London. 
 
 For Canada, — 
 
 Sir Ale.xanoer Ca.mpbell, 
 Mr. Sandford Flemikc. 
 
 For Victoria, — 
 
 Mr. ,Iames Service, 
 Mr. Ali'iieii Dkakin, 
 Sir .Ia.mes LouiMEii, 
 Sir Graua.m Beruv. 
 
 For New South Wales, — 
 SiK Pathick .Ienninos, 
 
 Sill RoiiERT WlSHOM, 
 
 Sir Saul Sa.muel. 
 F'or Queensland, — 
 
 Sir Samuel Griffith, 
 Sir James Garrick. 
 
 For Western Australia, — 
 
 Sir John Forrest, 
 Mr. Septimus Hurt. 
 
 I'or Xcw Zcahind, — 
 
 Sir WiLLIAJI FlTZUERBER'i', 
 
 Sir Francis T>. 1?ki.l. 
 For Tiisniiinia, — 
 
 Mr. J. S. DoDDS, 
 Mr. AnYE Douglas. 
 
 For Xewfouiidhuul. — 
 
 Sir Ambrose Shea, 
 Sir Robert Thorburn. 
 
 For Natal,— 
 
 Sir John Korixson. 
 
 For Cape of Good Hope, — 
 Sir Charles Mills. 
 
 The Colonial Minister caused the above letter to be trans- 
 n)itteil to the Admiralty on May ::8rd. The -Vdmiralty replied 
 as follows : — 
 
 "Ai.mikai.tv, May 28tli, 1887. 
 
 "Sir, — I have laid before my Lords Commissioners of the 
 Admiralty your letter of the 23r(l instant, inclosing a recom- 
 mendation sigiivd by the delegates to the late Colonial Confer- 
 ence, that a survey should be niiule with a view to determin- 
 ing the lu'actiiabiiity of laying a cable between Caiuida and 
 Australia; un<l further suggesting tiuit Mr. Fleming should 
 be ]ilaced in communication with the Hydrographer to the 
 Admiralty with a view to discussing the question. 
 
y 
 
^ 
 
 8 
 
 " l'. In rt'iily tlieir Lordrtliips ilosiic iiic to rstatA,', t'nr tlio in- 
 f(iriii;iti(in nfSir Henry llnllaiul, tlnit if Mr. Fluniing lias not 
 alri'aily left Lmuldii, \\v. will liiid tlif Ilyclrngniiilifr at tlie Ad- 
 iniriilty on any day he may like to tix. 
 
 ".'!. My Lords, liowover, desiro mo to add that iinloss tlio 
 SoL-retary of State has reason to believe tiiat a subnnirino cable 
 is liUely to lie laid IVoni Vancouver to Australia very shortly, 
 thiir Lor(Ulii[)s would not jiropose l<i despatch a surveying 
 vessel for the sole purpose of ohtaininj; soundings over the 
 route, hut that they will en<leavour to arrange that soundinga 
 shall ln' gradually ohtaineil during the next few years in the 
 ordinary course of hydrograjihic surveys. 
 
 " I am, i'Cc, 
 
 " EVAN MACGREOOR. 
 
 " The Under Secretary of State, 
 
 "Colonial Ollice." 
 
 The writer of th(! tollowing letter having been furnished with 
 copies of the letters from the ('olonial Ollice and the Admiralty, 
 addressed the Colonial .Minister as toll.iws : — 
 
 ■ LoMioN, dune Sth, 18S7. 
 
 Iionoui' to aeknowledge the receipt of 
 Ji'd instant, iinlosing copies of l(>tters 
 
 "Sill, — I have tin 
 your letter I'f the 
 
 hetwcen the Colonial Otticc anil the .Vdmiralty respecting the 
 projiosed nautieal suivey of the I'aeitic in eonnei'tion with the 
 laying of a cable lietweeii C;inada and Austraha. 
 
 "1 beg leave to direct attention to tlie tliiril paragraph of 
 the letter from the Admiralty which reads as follows : — 
 
 '"My Lords, however, desire mc to add that unless the 
 Hecretary of S*ate has reason to believe that a submarine cable 
 is likely to be laid from Vancouver to Australia very shortly, 
 their Lordships would not propose to despatch a surveying 
 vessel for the sole pui'fiose of obtaining soundings over the 
 route, but that they will endeavour to arrange that soundings 
 shall be grailually <ibtained during the next i^w years in tlie 
 oi'dinary course of liydrogra|ihir sui'veys.' 
 
 "Since the receipt of your letter of the J?rd instant, T have, 
 with the permission of the Lords Coiiiniissionci's of the Admi- 
 ralty, plaeed myself in communication with the Ilydrographer, 
 who has explained to me what is to he understood by the last 
 |iart of the nliove ((Uoled paragra[ih. From these explanations 
 I have learned tint it is not intended to do anything until 
 next year; that next year if is expected that a surveying vessel 
 will he despati-hed to Australian waters tor other purposes, 
 and that while there tint otlleers will be instructed in the 
 ordinary course ,.f their duties, to endeavour to obtain some 
 information which may be useful in connection with the ques- 
 tion of laving a lable. It is intended to follow the same course 
 year by year; hut from all I can learn, no delinite idea can be 
 formed as to the tinn> which will he expended before the work 
 will be completed ; indeed it does not appear i[iiite certain 
 that anything will be tlono even next year; it is hinted that 
 the work may be interrupted and the surveying vessel taken 
 away. It is scarcely ni essary for me to point on! that the 
 course proposed to bo followed will not accomplish the desired 
 end. The records of the Conference will show how nnich im- 
 portance is attached by every delegate to the telegraphic con- 
 
.^ 
 
 ncctidii cif Cimndii iiiid AuHtralin. In an Impi'iial point of 
 view \\* iniiiortaiii'i' was lii'ld ut tlic Cont'iTcnci' to lie second 
 to no otiicr (|Ucsti((n ln-oufilit loiward lor discUHHion, and I 
 think 1 may vL'ntu'<' to sav on lidialt of the twcnt>-<)nc 
 dc'ii'i;atcs who atlaclifii llifir names to tiu' letter of tiie ItJth 
 of.NUiv. addressed to Sir II. iir^ Holland, tliat it will ho a 
 j;rave'dit<a|i|ioiiitineiit to them ai'id to the (hivernmentB tliey 
 reiireseiil, if \v< other eoiirse tlian that ]iroi»Meil and explained 
 to me hy the llyilr..^napher he followed. Sir ili^nry llollund, 
 who pi'i'sided over the Coiiferenee, will rememhei' how wtronffly 
 individual menihers spoke on the siihji'et, and he known also 
 tho view of the Conh'renee as a hody. On the last duv ol the 
 Conference a resohitioii on the (|iiestion was nnanimously 
 ndoptod, to whieh I think it would hiwell to direct the special 
 attention of the Admiralty. 
 
 " I respectfully suhmit that the Lords Conimissionors of the 
 Admiraltv appear to have misappiehended the ohjeet of the 
 ai)iilieaii(m of the lOlh of May. i may therefore venture to 
 explain thatassomeof the ollieers of the (iovernment an(l other 
 jrentlemen examined hel'ore the Conference <;ave testiinony 
 which raised doiihts as to the praeticahility ot ostahlisliinj^ a 
 direct telejjraph across the I'acitic, a general fcelinjr prevailed 
 tlmt the ([Uestioii was of such puramoiint importance as to de- 
 mand imnieiliate attention and that every douht should he set 
 at rest hy having a thorough and exhaustive survey made 
 under the'highest" nautical authority. No one who attended 
 the meetings of the Conference, or who has seriously considered 
 tho relations of the great self-governing Colonies to the Motlier 
 Coiiiilry can for a moiuent ilcaiht that an electric cahle ffoin 
 Camida to Australasia, is imperatively demaiuled, and tliat if 
 practicahle will he ostahli.ihed. The iiuestion of praeticahility, 
 however, is precedent to all others, and it is iherefore of tho 
 utmost importance that the rccpiest of the delegates to the 
 Conference, made collectively and individually on hehalf of 
 their respective (Jovernnicnts, shotild he reconsidered. 
 
 " I have the honour to he, sir, 
 
 " Your moat ohediont servant. 
 
 " SANDFORD FLEMING. 
 
 " The UndCi- Secretary of State, 
 " Colonial Ortice." 
 
 Tho correspondence was continued throughout the year 1887 
 hy the Colonial Ollice,the Admiralty, and the Governor G.'iio- 
 ral of Canada, hut nothing practical was done in prosecuting 
 tho survey until the following year. 
 
 On the 7th of March the following telegram was sent from 
 Melbourne to Lord Knutsford hy the Governor of Victoria :— 
 
 " In accordance with resolution passed hy l^ostal Conference 
 held Sv(lney,the whole Australian Colonies being represented, 
 my (iovernment ask that Admiralty may he moved to make 
 early survey of suitable route for ocean cahle telegraph hy way 
 of Pacific tJcean ria Vancouver Island, cost to be defrayed by 
 Her Majesty's Govermuent, Government of Canada, and Aus- 
 tralasian Colonies." 
 
 Thoreupim the letter which follows was transmitted from the 
 Colonial Otlice to the Admiralty. 
 
" DoWNiNii Sthkkt, Itilh Miinli, 18S8. 
 
 " f^iH,— Witli ivl'.r.' t..y..iii IcII.tk (M. 12I'J) nfilio JStli 
 
 of May uiiil (M. IT);')") nf tlii''.'')tli nf.Iiily lant on tlic sulijcct >>( 
 n |>ii']ioN('(l ti'lciriiipli t'iil)l<' lii'iwi'i'ii (.';iiiaiia and Australia, I 
 Hill (rm-cli'il liv I.iiiil Kmiti^liiid t(i tliiii>Miit to yiiii, 1(1 lie laid 
 hcl'.ii-i' till' I.iirds ("(iiiiinishidiuTs ut'tlio Admiralty, a oupy (if a 
 t('tci;raiii icccivcd Iniiii llic ( iovcninK'nt (if Victdria Maidi 
 7tli, 1S8H, iirj^iiitr Hiat an ( iiily .siiiMy may Ih' made ufa suit- 
 able line fi.ii' a ealilc. 
 
 '■ A' llie Ciiliinial (invcrniiients i<\' Aiisiialia aii]Miii' In lie 
 |p|i'|iaicil til iniivide. in edii.jniuticiii wiili tlie Iniiieiiid (invein- 
 iiient and tlie (invei'iiineiit (if Canada, a |ii(i|iiirti(inate fliaiv (if 
 llie expense- of Hiieli axiiivey, Ldiil l\ Miitsldril, with n view t(i 
 that fiii'tliei- ednsid(M'uti(in nf tlu> qiieslinn wliieli lian lieedliiii 
 necessary, wnnlil lie (il>lif;ed if llieir rjdi(l»lii|i.s wmild furnisli 
 liini it' it is in tliuir power td dn so, with uii appinximiite esti- 
 mate df the prdhalile cdst nt' a survey. 
 
 " I am, ite., 
 
 ".lOIIX r.KAMSTON. 
 
 " The Sceretiiry to the Admiralty." 
 
 On heariiiLr iVdin the Admiralty Lord Knut,~fdrd transmitted 
 a eiiciilar despatch to the (inveiiidi' (ieiieral df Canada, and 
 the ( idveriiiirs (if ihe Aiistraliiiii ('dlnnies, eiiiiveyiiij; the d ■••- 
 sidii arrived at hy Her Nl'ijes' 's ( idvernment. 
 
 '• DdWNiNd SriiF.-T, 1st May, 1888. 
 
 " Sir, — F havt he hniidur tn transmit to ynii, I'nr cdminuni- 
 oatidii td ydiir (iovernment, a ctipy uf a letter which 1 caused 
 to ho aihlressid to thu Tjordu Cdinmissidnors df llio Admiralty 
 respectina: the survey which Her Majesty's Gnvermiiciit have 
 been re([iiested I" liinkc nl a route for a cable telcirraph be- 
 tween Canaibi and Australia across the I'acific Ocean, tosxether 
 with an extract from their Lordships' rejily. 
 
 '• Her Majesty's (idvernmeiit cdneiir in the dpinimi expressed 
 in the letter Iroin the Admiralty that the (|iiesti(iii of accele- 
 ratiiiir the survey must reiiiaiii ojicn until there is a pmspect 
 that the I'lindd for the const ruction of the « able will be fdund." 
 
 " 1 bav(^ the hdiidur td be, sir, 
 
 ""^'dur most dliedient humble servant, 
 
 •'KNUTSFORD." 
 
 E.ffrncts jriiin a letter I'roni tlie Admiralty to the Culunial 
 Office, iliitcd -Ith April, 1888. 
 
 "5. H.M.S. ' I'lijcria ' is now on the point of sailing from 
 Sydney to perform the important work of elearint; up the 
 dangers, and lixiiig the positidiis dt, and surveying the islands 
 or. the route I'rom New Zealand to Vancduver, a Wdrk which 
 my Ldpdu understood was strongly urgt'd by Rear-Admiral 
 Sir Cieorge Tryon on the re]>reseiitatioii8 of tlie Colonies." 
 
 " 6. In tlio course of this work the ' Egeria' has orders to 
 obtain deep soundings which will in two or three years furnish 
 more detailed information than now exists as to the varieties 
 of (b'pths to be expected on the general line of cable." 
 
 " 7. To survey a route for a cable to any purpose would, 
 however, entail long seareliing for the best line, examination 
 
6 
 
 of contours of conil islaiulrt, and continuous i-lono souiitlinj^s ; 
 and tliicc voiij's' steady work at tliat iind notliing else would 
 jiiiiliably not comjilctc tlic survey." 
 
 "8. The opeiiilions on wliidi tlie 'Ej^cria'ia altout to lie 
 emploved will pi'ovidc for work of immediate value to, and 
 ot ur/ient necessity in coiuicction with, the commerce now 
 sj)rinj.^ing uji : and will also furnish griidiudly (at a minimum 
 cist) the preliminary information re((uired, and a great part of 
 that directly i)earing on the laying of a cable." 
 
 " f>. My Lords do not, therefore, consider that it is advisable 
 to make any alteration in the orders under which the ' Egeria' 
 is about to act : ami as no vessel canbcsiiared from her hydro- 
 graphic work in any other part ol' the world the question of 
 hastening the survey by |)roviding another vessel must, in 
 their Lordships' opinion, remain opiii, until Lord Knutsford is 
 able to inform this department that there is a reasonable prospect 
 that t!ie fu!id< for th(! constructitin of the submarine cable 
 across the I'acitie will be found, and that time i»of iirii>orta!:co 
 in Jm^lerial interests.'" 
 
 " 10. In reply to the ini|uiry contained in the last part of 
 your letter, my Lords desiie me to state that tiie annual cost of 
 n.M.S. 'Egeria' is about i;fJ,UUO, and that if a similar 
 vessel is provided especially for the jiurjiose ol' making a com- 
 plelu survey ot the best oeean route and landing places, the 
 lost woulil be about t"5U,0U0. The foregoing estimate is irres- 
 pective of the value of the vessel, and tlie cost of fitting her 
 out." 
 
 On reieiving copies of these connnuuications the writer ot 
 the follciwing letter felt it imcumbetit upon him to address 
 Lord .Stanley, Governor (General of Canada on the subject. 
 
 '•Otmwa, '2.sth June, 1888. 
 
 " His E.\cellency 
 "The Right llononnible Lord Staiiley, 
 " Governor General of Canada. 
 
 •• -May it Plkase Your Exculi.excy : — 
 
 " 1 have the honour to refer to a circular despatch of date 
 1st May, 1S88, which Lord Knutsford has addressed to the 
 Governors ot the Australian Colonies an<l the Governor (ien- 
 eral oi ''ana<la, on the proposed survey of a suitable route for 
 the eal lie telegraph projected between Canada and Australia 
 by way of the Pacific Ocean. 
 
 " I am iniiielled by a sense of duty to ask ''^'our E.xcellency's 
 jiermissioii to suiiniit the following remarks, in the hope that 
 Your Excellency will consider the subjeci of imjiortance sufK- 
 cient tojustify fiirtlu'r proceedings being laken. 
 
 "The consideration of postal and telegraph inter-communi- 
 cation as essential to the consolidation of the Empire was 
 specially alluded to in the circular despatch of Mr. Stanhope, 
 2t)lh Novendu r, 188(!, sunimoning the Conference, which met 
 in London in 1887. The Colonial Minister dwelt on it as a 
 'great (piestion' which concerned in a special degree the in- 
 terests of the whole of the Queen's dominiotis and he rejiro- 
 duced the words used in the tiueen's speecli at the prorogation 
 of rarlianieut, expressing the conviction of Her .Maji'sty 'that 
 there is on all sides a growing desire to draw closer in every 
 liracticable way the bonds w ' ich unite the various portions of 
 the Empire.' 
 
" III Ills nddresfl at tlio (ipenint; of the Conferenco, the Pre- 
 sident, Lord Ivmitst'oi'd, ifuve tcreat prominciice to tlie (luestioii, 
 mid at subse([aeiit im>etiiifr,s (April 1!), 20, 27 and May 6) 
 tlie [>ri)pi):<iil to estahlish a teloftraph cable lietweeu Canada 
 and Australia was earnestly ilisiiissnl. I beg leave to refer 
 to the aeeoinpauyini; return to the I'arliament of Canada to 
 an addresH of the Senate dated 27th Nran-li last (\m\'^o 8 to 82) 
 for Miinutosiif these discussions and also for a resolution which 
 was nnaninmusly passed at the close of the Conference. This 
 resolution sets foith that under every aspect, naval, military, 
 commercial and political, the establishment of such a line of 
 telegraphic communication would have great value, and that, 
 every (loubt as to its practicability should, without delay, be 
 set at rest by a thorough and exhaustive survey. 
 
 "The doubt as to the praetii-ability of the jiroject arose from 
 statemi'iits made to the tJonterence by gentlemen who appear- 
 ed befoic them on the invitation of tiie Fmperial authorities, 
 among others the I'hairman of the I'^astein and Eastern Kxten- 
 sion Telegra|)li Companies and tliesecn^tary of the Imperial I'ost 
 Ollice Department, introduced to the Confcrenceas the highest 
 authority on telegraph matters existing. In speaking of the 
 route of the proposed <'ahle these gentlemen alluded to ocean 
 depths which had previously bi'en unlieard of and to other 
 obstacles which might [)i'ove insupinable. leaving an impres- 
 sirin on the minds ,,f the delegates of doubt and uncertainty, 
 which can only bo removed by actual survey. 
 
 " Alter the Conference had <'losed. in order to emphasize the 
 convictions they had formed that an immediate and exhaustive 
 survey was indis[)ensalple, the delegates addressed a letter to 
 the Colonial .Minister. [ desire to direct Vour Excellency's 
 attention to this U'ttcr, dated Ititli -May, 1887, and the eori'ea- 
 jiondence which immediately tollowed tpages 137 to 140 of 
 acc()nipanying return). Tbe letter is signed by twenty-one 
 dcic'^iites, representing the Governments ol' Xew k5<iuth Wales, 
 A'ictoria. Queensland, Western .Vustralia. Tasmania, New- 
 foundland. Natal, the Cape of Good Hope, New Zealand ami 
 Canada. 
 
 "A further correspondence took place, the most important 
 portion of which, to the end of 1K87. appears in the accom- 
 panying return. I have the honour to apjiend I'opies of the 
 mori' recent correspondence, viz. : — 
 
 " 1. Copy ofa telegram froin the (Governor <if V^ictoria to Lord 
 Xnulsford, dated Melbourne, 7th March, 1888. referring to a 
 resolution jiassed at a conference helil recently at Sydney, the 
 whole of the Australian colonies being repri'scnted, urging 
 that an early survey ofa suitable route for the cable be made, 
 and pointing out that tbe colonies would share in the expense. 
 
 " 2 Letter from tbe Colonial OIHce to the Admiralty, dated 
 IGtli .March, 1888, inclosing a copy of the telegram from 
 Australia and recpiesting information with respect to the prii- 
 bahle cost of a survey. 
 
 " 3. Extract from a letter from the Admiralty to the Colonial 
 Ollice dated Ith April, 1888, pointing out that JL.M.S. ' Egeria' 
 is uniler instructions 'to [perform the important work of clear- 
 ing \ip the dangers, and lixing the positions of, and surveying 
 the islands on tlie route from New Zealand to V'ancouver,' 
 and that ' in the I'ourse of this work the ' filgeria ' had orders 
 to obtain deep soundings which will in two or three years fur- 
 nish more detailed information than now exists as to the varie- 
 ties ol' depths to be expected on the general hue of cjihle.' The 
 Jetter further states that to survey a route for a cable, ' three 
 
8 
 
 yciirn' wtoadv work ;it tliat niid imtliinj; else would probaLly 
 iKit ciimpk'to tlic siiivoy ' ; alsn tliat ' tlici (Hit'stiiui (if hastening 
 tlio survey 1>y iimvidiiii;' aiintlior vossd, iiiiist, in tliuir L(ird- 
 sliijis' iijiinion loniiiin njioti mild Lmd Kniitslurd isa1)Io tdinl'urm 
 tlic depart ini'iit tliat tliere is a rcasmialilo pnispoct that the 
 funds tiir liiu innsti'n<tion of the stihinarinu eiible aeross the 
 I'aiilic will 1h> I'liiiiid, and that time is nf importance in Impe- 
 rial interests.' 
 
 ' 4. Circular froin the Cdlnnial Minister transmittinir the 
 ahiive letter ami ciiMeuirint;- in the opininii expiessed in the 
 letter of the Adniiraliy that the (|nestion of aeiieleratinsj the 
 survey must remain ojien until there is a prospect that the thnds 
 for the construction oi'the cable will be found. 
 
 "Tlie proposal to establish a telegraph cable from Canada to 
 Australia by way of the Tacilic, had its origin in the Dominion. 
 It has been recog: i/.ed by men representing every one of the 
 Colonies in the Southern lJeniispli<>re and by ller Majesty's 
 Minister that the enterprise is of value, not sim])ly on account 
 of the eonne<'(ion which it would establish between (Canada 
 and the great C'olonies on the (ijiposite shore of the Pacilic, but 
 likewise froTn the influence it would exercise in the consolida- 
 tion oi'the Knipire. On this ground it has always been consi- 
 dered that the I'o-operation of the Imperial Government may 
 with confidence be claimed. The representatives of Camida 
 at the ('onference emleavoured succinctly to represent the 
 favourable results which would follow the construction of this 
 direct line of I'onimunii'ation and the representatives of all the 
 other Colonies freely gave expression totbeir views, coididently 
 dwelling on the hopes and aspirations they entertained. 
 
 '■ r will not, my Lord, in this communication repeal the argu- 
 mcut-4 brought forward at 1 he Conference to justity our expecta- 
 tions that the (!olonies will obtain the sympathy of the Itnperial 
 Government in this otfi)rt. It may, however, bo said that this 
 new liiM' of <'onimunieation will promote the cultivation of 
 intercourse and niort^ intimate relationship and cannot fail to 
 establish a more jierfect bond of union, and identity of interest 
 nati'Uially and commercially between Australia, Canada and 
 Kngland to exercise the ha]ipiest influences. Moreover, the 
 whole route from iMigland to Australia, runs through IJritish 
 territory or through waters removed from the risk of cominu- 
 nications being tampered with, as might hapjien on passing 
 through foreign soil or in the shallow seas around the shores 
 of foreign countries. The work is indeed a national under- 
 taking ol' importance to the common interests in time of peace 
 and ot' greater value in time of war in view of the (common 
 safety and the nuiintenance of the integrity ot the Emiiire. It 
 was in view of these coiisideraticuis that the representatives of 
 the Colonies asked upwards of a year back that every doubt 
 as to the practicability of the undertaking should without 
 delay be set at rest 
 
 " I beg leave to refer Youi Excellency to the extracts from 
 the letter of the Admiralty appciuled. It is stated that if the 
 telegraph survey was made the |irimary and only object of the 
 expedition the means now being emjiloyed woidd scarcely 
 complete the examination in three years, but, it is obvious 
 from the instructions issued that the work of obtaining the 
 infornuition is made incidental and subsidiary to other duties 
 as of seconilary importance. Such being the case it is dilHeult 
 to forcast an estimate of the mimber of years, under the orders, 
 conveyed in the Admiralty letter, within which the cable 
 surxeys will be completed. It nuiy indeed extend over a dozen 
 or more years. 
 
" I ivspiHitl'iilly iliivcf your P^xfelloiicy'siittcntioii to the strong 
 tLH'liiiij eiitortaino<l tliat no such dolay shouhl take place. It 
 will not ill' ovprlookeil that any doiilit of the practirahility of 
 the project has not lieen raised hy tli(^ outer provinces of the 
 Knipire; it has in no way heen advanced by those; win) ro|)re- 
 sent the Australian <'olonies, N'ew Zealand or the Dominion; 
 it was suirirested liy the witnesses lirouiiht forward hy the 
 IIoMic( iovtiinneiit. Xatnrally theC'oionies look to the Home 
 (iovernmeiit to got the question at rest as soon as [lossihle. 
 
 " Fnti! this fpiestion he settled it can scarcely he expected that 
 much progress can he made in providintr thel'unds torcarryint; 
 out the enterprisi'. It will he no ordinary matter for the 
 Governments of nine or ten countries, some of them separated 
 hy half the earth's circumfercn(,'e, to come to an airreement on 
 tlie Ljeneral details of a financial scheme, and it will he per- 
 fectly tiitilc for them to do so if the sui-vey should show that 
 the undcttakinj; is not praciicahle. On the other Inuid shouhl 
 the work he pn. mnnced feasihle, the circumstances which call 
 for the consumuiation of the project will in one form or another 
 assure its constriu-tion. I respectfully siihmit to Your Ivxi'cl- 
 lency that the [leople in the Colonies will i'ail to reco<;iii/.c that 
 it is necessary, rcasonahle or just to expect that the funds should 
 he provi<lcd or that the mode of raising the capital should he 
 arranired previous to orders being given for the survey to lie 
 perseverinu'ly and .systematically carried on. 
 
 " At a meeting of tlie Conference on intli April, 1887, at which 
 the I'aeitic i-ablc was <onsidered, the Imperial Postmaster 
 (ietieral, Mr. Raikes. explained the position of the Home 
 (iovernn.ont. Ilis remarks are so important, that I feel it 
 my dutv to ask Your Kxcelleney's attention to them as they 
 appear in the proceedings. The following is an extract : — 
 
 '• When \. e are told hy Mr. Fleming that it may he ]iossihle ■ 
 to transmit W(p|-ds at the rate of alio\it two shillings per word 
 (•/" Canada and I'aeitic,' (nine shillings and fourpence per word 
 hcing the lowest eharge hy the existing line), ' we see at once 
 the perfect revolution in the coinniunications between the 
 Australian Colonies and the Mother Country, which would he 
 effected if such an an'ani;ement could he carried out. But I 
 think the Conference will feel that, while apiireeiating the 
 importaiiee of this, and largily sympathizing with what I 
 believe to he the most heiiefieial change of any of the changes 
 which can come (jut of this Conlerence it would be a matter of 
 extremt; difliculty, I think without precedent, for the Knglish 
 Government itself to become interested in such a scheme in 
 such a way as lo constitute itselt a cnmpetitor with an existing 
 commercial enterprise carried on hy citizens of the Britisli 
 Kmjiire." 
 
 '•The enterprise alluded t.> hy Mr. llaikes is the ' Eastern 
 Extension Telegra|di Company' whose lines extend from India 
 to Australia. 
 
 "I will not atti-mpt to <lisgnise the conviction generally felt 
 and which I fully entertain, that the new line of telegraph via 
 Canada would make -t impossible for that Conipany to continue 
 to realize the pr -fits it has hitherto enjoyed. 
 
 "There is really only one mode of carrying out (he project, 
 realizing aav admitted benefits which it will create and satis- 
 factorily overcoming the ■litlieulty explained by Mr. Haikes. 
 It is to" constitute the unilertakiiig an Imperial-Intercolonial 
 work, taking over the property of the existing Company and 
 placing the whole under one management. This pro[iosal is 
 considered in a inenio-.andum dated •20fh Septeni' er, 1887, 
 
-^> 
 
10 
 
 (pnu'i^ 148 ot'iucnmpiiiiyiiiLf Return), U> wliicli T liojr leave to 
 refer Ydiir I'xrelleiuy. 
 
 " W'liili' tlieit! slidiild lie tlie Htriiiii;est desire to rewpect esta- 
 blislieil riglits mid lioinmrablv recoiriii/.e exislint; interests, on 
 tlie otlier liMiid we must liear in mind the well-known [irimijile, 
 tliat no piivate Company, whatever its (irnlitahle ()peruti<ins, can 
 be allowed to impede tiie treneral advantacc of the Empire. 
 Tile principle is elt'arly establisiied tiiat private interests must 
 yield to publie sjood ; sueb private interests being fairly 
 indeinnilied. 
 
 " Tn the Memorandum of 2(!tli September, 1S87, it is conteni- 
 jilated to earry out tlie underlakintr inidcr a joint Commission, 
 on whieli would he represented the Frnperiai (Tovernment, and 
 the tioveinmenfa of t'anada, tlu^ Australian Colonies, and New 
 Zealand. That thronjj;ii this means the new Paeilic eahle would 
 lie estahlished as a puhlie work ; and the cables of the Eastern 
 Extension Company taken over at a fair valuation, whenever 
 that Company desires to dispose of them. The members of 
 the Commission to be appointed by the coutrilmtiug (iovern- 
 nu'iits, and their duties and resjionsibilitics defined and deter- 
 mined iiy these (ioverumellts. 
 
 •' It is contemplated that the caiiital reipiired for the uuder- 
 taking shall he ol>taiuod on a joint (iovernment guarantee, thus 
 securing it at the lowest rate of interest. It is shown by the 
 data given in the Memorandum that owing to the low rate at 
 whieli money is thus obtainahle it is jiossible to prneuro the 
 aiiionni required for the eoustructi<in of the new oalde with the 
 addition of a sum sufHeient to cjiver tbe value of the Eastern 
 Extension Company's cables without involving nuicli if any 
 higher interest charges than tlu' suhsidies now paid. 
 
 "The interest on t2,0.S0.000. the estimated cost of the now 
 telegraph and the value of the presient line, at-'! [i.e. is .ttiO.OOO, 
 whereas it is auticijiated that oii the United Imjierial and Co- 
 lonial guarantee, money couUl he obtained at "J.V or but little 
 over that rate. 
 
 " The amount of the several subsidies now paid is i£56,700, of 
 which .£3l),ti00 is paid by the Australian Colonies 
 
 '' Opinions may vaiy with re>pect to the value of the cables of 
 the Eastern Extension Coiiijuiny. i can only remark on this 
 point that the calculations given in the Memorandum of the 
 2t)th Sejitemher. 1H&7, are based on the testimony of the Com- 
 pany's liigliest, otlicor, and on ollieial data, which I do not con- 
 sider can be disputed, lie the value \shat it may, the jiriiieiple 
 remains the same. It is proposed that the existing telegraph 
 Company shall have the option of selling its cables to the joint 
 (iovernment Commission, at the ]irice whiidi shall reiiresent 
 their value at tin' date of transfer. 
 
 " Itmiiy be anticipated tlavt the Eastern Extension Telegraph 
 Company will claim for loss of proiits something more than 
 the actual value ol' their property. They should undoubtedly 
 be considered in a fair and lilieral spirit, hut the question of 
 indemnity and all other details may be left for future conside- 
 ration, i am now only desirous of drawing Y.mr Excelleney'a 
 attention to the fact that it will not be ditiicult to provide all 
 the funds required under some such arrarigeineiit as that 
 suiTgested. 
 
 " The important feature of the proposal is the raising of 
 capital on the joint guarantee of the Imperial and Colonial 
 (loveruments. It will be within Your Excellency's knowledge 
 that in 1807 a loan was raised on this principle towards carry- 
 ing out an undertaking in which the Imperial and Canadian 
 
11 
 
 Govi'i'miii'iitrt wore rimtimlly nmcuiiu'd, iIjo rftilwuv enmuM'tincf 
 Qiii'lii'i' Hiicl Iliililiix. I'lidi'i- lliir* m-iiiiii;i'tiii'iii tlic fiiiidrt to 
 the cxti'iil 111' t:!,()() I.IKIO wlciTiiiir wito iini\iilo(l nt ii Inw rati) 
 
 111 Illtcl'I'St 111 
 
 tli(> 1 1 
 
 til 
 
 lis iiu'unx, wiilimit in iiiiyuay ilriiwiiifj on 
 
 lll|M'lilll l'Xrll('(|llli|-, tlir I lolllO < loVl'llllllcMl loiidcri' 
 
 ll Kill) 
 
 Mtillltllli 111! 
 
 ill til 
 
 iirttriU'tioii ol' an iin[iortiiiit Hortion of tin 
 
 lialioiial railway ol' ('miada. IJy llic saiin' |ii'ilii'i|>li' ot' ni-opi 
 
 mtioii, tl 
 
 LCrciit iiiidfitaUiiiii' ri'I'cii-i'i 
 
 I tl 
 
 > III lliis I'oiiiiiiiiiiii'a- 
 
 tioii, to wliii'li so niiich iiii|iortaii('(> liai< licoii attariud us tl 
 lui'iiiiH of hiiiijriiit; into closer alliiiity tlip various iiortions of 
 the Ktniiire, may l>o siifcossl'iiUy carriod out. 
 
 I'l'i'vioiis to tli(Mlc|iiirtuit' tVoiu t'aiiadaol '^'our Kxc 
 
 ]' 
 
 Iciossiii', I,ord I 
 
 iiiiscliiwnt', lie rcri'ivci 
 
 1 )i 
 
 U'liimials 1 1-1 1)11 
 
 Ilaliliix, M.iiifival, Ottawa, T 
 
 iiiiiilii iiiid oIIkt pUu'i's |iiayi!ig 
 
 llilii to lake steps to iMilislitllte a Coiit'ereiire nl' dele>;ales to 
 devise uieaiis liir tliii deviOii|iiiieiits nl' intercourse, trade and 
 coinnieiee lictweeii Australia and Canada. A de)>iitation 
 Waited iijinii liiiii during His Hxreliency's lust visit to Toronto, 
 to jiress tliis iiidposal, and ln'tiire lie sailed tiir Knurland a 
 t'lirilier depulatioii eiinsistinix of some twenty meinliera nf tlio 
 Canadian I'ailiaiinMit waited ii[ion liini to advocate tlie samo 
 policy. 
 
 Lord rjimsdowiK rdially favniired the siiftgeslioii and re- 
 
 eogni/.od tliut .-iicli a (^mif 
 
 ereucc was nio 
 
 si d 
 
 csiraiile, 
 
 II. 
 
 was 
 
 ill enough to stale that lie woiihl use his intliience with the 
 liouu! (iovcruineiit to have the pro|iosal carried into efl'ect. 
 
 " A Conference of delogntes represoiitiiig Canaihi. the Aus- 
 tralian Colnnies and Xew Zealand wmild have no more impor- 
 tant matter hroui;lit under theirenii-iderali'in than thcsiihiect 
 
 lave enUuavoiired 
 
 r 
 
 ter. It ma, 
 
 Would he tl 
 
 to siihmit tl) Viiiir Kxcellencv in this let- 
 le assumed thai one of their lirst duties 
 Is fur carrvintfinto exeeu- 
 
 arrange the general i 
 
 tion the [iriiimsed ])uhlie undertaU 
 
 " I beg leave' to express the hope that the explanations which 
 
 I have made will enable You Kxcellencv ti 
 
 resent to Lord 
 
 I\iiiitsford that there Is u reasonable prospect of means being 
 found fur establishing the proposed cable telegra|)li across the 
 
 ilic, and that it is important to h 
 
 til 
 
 e survev eomii 
 
 at us earlv a 
 
 date 
 
 ib' 
 
 iletod 
 
 1 have the honour to he, 
 
 '■ Your Excellenc3''a 
 
 •• Very hundile servant, 
 " SAXDFORD FLEMING 
 
 The object of the foregoing letter to His Kxcellency was to 
 point out these fucts, viz. : — 
 
 1. The establishment of u Pacific Cable was in harmony 
 with Imperial policy as expressed by Iler Majesty's Ministers, 
 in connection with the Colonial Conference of 1887. 
 
 2. The Colonial Conference of 1887 gave emphatic expres- 
 sion to rhe value of a Pacific Cable under eveiy aspect, nuval, 
 military, commercial, and political. 
 
 3. The delegates from the colonies collectively and indivi- 
 dually, on behalf of the Governments they represented, urged 
 in the strongest maimer Her Majesty's Government to cause a 
 nauticul examination to be made to establish the practicability 
 of the proposed cable. 
 
12 
 
 4. Tlio Ailinintlty iitdr hhiih' ili^liiy iimli'Mtonk In nmko u 
 liydr.'gnvpliiii hiirvcy '• "u llic nmtc t'roiii New Zfiilaiul U< Van- 
 (MiiiviT." Iiiit iiiiili'i' llif iiii'triu'tiiiiiH t,'iv('M \i> tin- niirvoyiiijif 
 (tliip "Kj^it'ih" niiiny years wmilil I'iiipsc lu'lnri' the work 
 
 ciuilil 1m' coliililrliMl. 
 
 .">. Hi'iircMiitulions Were iimdi' I" Imvc llie .■-iirv('y 'icccloi'iiti'il, 
 Idit till- Adiiiinilty ili^'litHMl toimsli (mtliu surviy with i^rcatcr 
 (■X|Milili(Hi, oil the jifii'Miid tliiit they nli<ml(l liist lie 'mt'niiiied 
 that tlicre ia a iirospuct of tlio t'liiuls lieiiii; iDimd lor hiyiiij^ 
 tliu eublo. 
 
 •!. It i.s nhowii that tlioro was then m there 'm now, a itiiHoii- 
 nlile in'ii.-iiieif of means henig fonnd lor e.^tiihlishiiif; the eahle, 
 l)iit that it is a matter ipf no ordinary dltliciilty to hiinjj ten 
 (iiivernments. wiilely He[mrated hy distaiiee, into agreement 
 rertjiiM^linir t'linds and it would he fiitiU' to do so iinlesa the 
 survey |iroveil ihc undertaking to he praetieable. 
 
 7. The hope irt therefore expressed tliat the Admiralty would 
 see iiow reiisoiiahle it is that the survey siiould ho acoelei'ated, 
 8o that it wcjiild he completed at as early a date as [lossiiile in 
 accordance witii the fre(i;ii >\y expressed wishes which luno 
 been reforre(l to. 
 
 This appeal was made tlirongli the (iovernor (ieiieial ot 
 Canada, Imt it remained without resiionse. As far as known 
 lln> Admiralty were not prevailed upon to hasten the survey 
 or make any ehaiige in the orders issued to tiie " Kgeria." 
 At a laler jieriod, how ever, a change was made, lint it was 
 preceded by the following letters which explain themsolves. 
 
 'Frit'l IIKH CoUltKSl'ONDKNCE. 
 
 Lrlti'r fnim Mr. S'nnlfurJ Flcminij to Lm'd Kuntsford. 
 
 "Hotel Victoria, NonTiiuMBEUi.AND Avenue, 
 
 " L0NI.0N, W. C, June 26, ISHO. 
 
 " The Right Honourable Lono K.nutsfoud, 
 
 " Secretary of State lor the Colonies. 
 
 " My Loud, 
 
 '■ I feel consti-ainc<l to address you on a subject which con- 
 cerns Canada not less than other great divisions of the Empire. 
 
 " When T left Ottawa two weeks ago, the matter to which 
 I desire to refer had not been noticed in any (juarter on the 
 other side of the Atlantic. My attention has been diri'cted 
 since my arrival here to coniniiinications in newsiiapers of 
 recent date, and more partii^ularly to an article in tiie 'J^'Uics 
 of the 20th instant, on the subject of telegraphy between Great 
 Britain and Australasia. 
 
 " If I understand the propopal which has been made, it is 
 that the cliarges for telegraphing should be reduced to about 
 one-half the present rates on condition that the Imperial and 
 Australian (iovernmonts join in guaranteeing a certain revenue 
 to the Eastern and Eastern Extension Telegraph Companies ; 
 which guarantee would involve a liability estimated by the 
 representatives of these companies at £54,000, more or less. 
 
«p 
 
 
13 
 
 per annum. To put I he proposal in otlior words, tlic (Jovcrn- 
 meiit-< are mkoil, as [iitidorstanil it, toas^umc the reRpoiisibility 
 of supportiiiij and maintainini; ttio monopoly of the present 
 liiK! (if telcijrapli for a period often years. 
 
 " The pii)|ioaal is not new. It wa-> made l>y the same C'om- 
 panies in a slJLrhtly modilled form (ilie prinei]ile lieinir the 
 same) tlirce years ago, lint it was not then seriously entertained. 
 My sur^irise is that it shouhl a<!!;ain he renewed, and I feel it a 
 piililic duty to point out the eonseijuenee which will result 
 shoulil the proposal he accepted. 
 
 " To enahle nie to do so it is necessary that I should refer to 
 the proceedingrof the Colonial C'onlerence of 1887, at which 
 1 had the honour to lie one oi rlii> rei're,~eiitatives of the 
 Dominion 
 
 '• At tills {,'onference au obligation rested upon tlio Canadian 
 Delegates to explain the position of Canada in relation to the 
 tcicirrapliic cominunieationa of the Knipire, and it was acknow- 
 ledged hy nearly every memher of the Conference, that it 
 wouM not lie p.ossihle to overlook the undertakings and the 
 ]ieculiar geograjihical situation of the Dominion, in ^nn^idering 
 tiie relegraphic n^Intions ot Kngland and Australia, and in 
 dealing with Imjierial coinniiinications as a whole. 
 
 " So much im]Hutance was attached to the suhject, that 
 after the proposal of the Telegraiih (Vimjianies was submitted 
 and every argument in ils snjiport advanced by their most able 
 advocate ; nd representative Sir .John Tender, the ('oni'erence 
 fornudly adopted two resolutions in favour of the Canadian 
 route, and I desire to emphasize the fact that no proposition,? 
 brought bet'ore the Conlerence were assented to more cordially 
 or with greater unanimity. 
 
 "These resolutions read as follows: — 
 
 1st. •■ That the connection recently formed through Canada 
 from the .Vtlantic to the Pacific by railway and telegraph 
 opens a new alternative line of Imperial comnmnication over 
 the high seas, and through British possessions, which jn'omises 
 to be of irreat value alike in naval, military, commercial, and 
 political aspects." 
 
 •J. '-That the eomiection <if Canada with Australia by direct 
 suijinarine telegraiih across the Pacific is a proji^ct of high im- 
 imrtance to the Empire, and every donb, us to its piacticaliility 
 >.houl(l, without di'lay, be set at rest by a thorough and ex- 
 iuuistive survey." 
 
 '•The explanations and discussions of which these rcsoluviona 
 were the outcome, set forth in ampler detail that the true way 
 to jiej'manently reduce the charges in telegraphy between 
 (ireat I'ritain anil .Vustralia is to utilize the Canadian route, 
 and establish a new cable across the Pacilic from the wesvern 
 coast ot the Dominion. It was likewise shown that by this 
 alternative route the electric cable woidd he laid iti deep water, 
 atid the telegraph woidd pass through countries under the 
 Kritish liag, and in consequence woulo in every respect ho 
 safer from injury liutn the existing line, and more jiermaniMitly 
 servicealile in peace or war. 
 
 '' The representations of the Conference were considered of so 
 much importance liuU the Admiralty commeneed a survey of 
 the new route, and up to present time has, as fai' .m I am aware, 
 discovered no dittieulties in the way. Possession basalso been 
 taken by (Ireat liritain of a nundier of islands in tlu' Pacific, 
 for the purpose ot establishing mid-ocean stations. 
 
 "Recognizing that negotiations were necessary in firder to 
 reach u common understanding, the Government of Canada 
 
^ 
 
14 
 
 two yciirs ago invited the Governments of Aiistralia and New 
 Zealand to send delegates to Canada to consider the whole 
 question of tclegraphie and trade relations, and arrange terms. 
 CorrosiKindcnce lesnlk'd, involving delav, and it was linally 
 agi'eed that (K'lcgates shmdd lie sent i'roin Cainida to Australia. 
 Aeeor(linij:ly, the Canadian (iiivcrnnient ajipointed delegates 
 last year, hut tlie projioscd t'ederation ot'the .Australiai. Colonies 
 jiostjioned tlieir visit under the eonvietion that more ettective 
 aeliiiii would lie attaiualile after federation heeanu^ aeeom- 
 plishi'd. The untorfuiiatc! delay proeeeds from eanses, some 
 ot whii-h I'xhihit the extreme desirahility of having closer eon- 
 neetioi! hy a direct eahle across the J'acitic. F hclieve 1 am 
 correct in stating that the Canadian IJovernmcnt only awaits 
 the proper nioineiil again to commission delegates to proceed 
 on the same mission. 
 
 " Uiuh'r these circumstances it cerl ainly would he a retrograde 
 step to adopt the proposal iifilie Kastcrn and Kastevn Kxten- 
 sion Teli'graph Comiianies. Its ado()tion would practically put 
 an end to any pros[iect ot coiuiectiiig Canada and Australia 
 telegraphically tor ten years to come, possihiy for a much lon- 
 gerperiod. Admitting all that can he sai<l in fav(>ur of reduc- 
 ing telegraph eliargesi ailmitting that they caniu.t he reduced 
 a moment too soon, would it he wise to prevent the estahlish- 
 ment of an altcruativi' line, which, to a greater extent than hy 
 any other means, would have the eifect of reducing these 
 charges? If time he an clcincnt of iniporlance, is it not the true 
 policy to acccli'rate the survey undertaken hy the Admiralty, 
 and iiiake arrangeuumts for estahlishiug the new line with the 
 least possilile delay ? It is ohvious that the acceptance of the 
 pro[iosal oi the existing Telegraph Conipaines woiUd jirove a 
 serious hlow to Colonial development and commercial exjian- 
 sioii ou the waters of the I'acitic. It cannot he acei'[ited with- 
 out ^oTiipletcly ignoring tlu' commanding position of the Domi- 
 nion, ami disregarding ali that Canadian enlerprise has done 
 to make that position comnnmding. WouUl this he wise? Is 
 it ex[iedient? Avo there not Imperial ii\terests of the iirst nutg- 
 nitude involved in the (piestion ? 
 
 "In 1880 Her Majesty's Government advised the Queen to 
 summons a Coiderence tor the diseussion of ([ucstionsof general 
 importance to the whole Empire. The Coloinal Minister in 
 calling the Conference s|>ecial!y alluded to the development of 
 Imperial telegraidiic comnumications, and gave expression to 
 the opinion that 'they should he considered as a whole, in 
 order that the needs of every part of the Empire may, as far 
 as practicahle, he provided for, and that suggestions nuiy be 
 'obtained from alt quarters as to the best meansof estalilishing 
 'a complete system of coniinuincation without that increased 
 'expenditure which necessarily results i'vum isolated aelion.' 
 
 "The joint deliberation of Delegates from all parts of Her 
 Majestv's Empire, and the fornnd suhiuission of their deliberate 
 opliiioii under the circumstances of their appointment, and in 
 view of the objects for which they were called together, shoidd 
 carry with it due weight. 
 
 "The reduction of telegra[ih charges is most important, but 
 there arc other momentous considi'rations, and w bih' it has 
 been indisi)utal)ly shown that the new line will be able to do 
 its work at far liiwer rates than is po.ssible hy the old line, most 
 important advantages of another kind can justly be claimed 
 for it. It will secure to the mother country a second and more 
 direct means of reaching Australia, incidentally alhudiug the 
 much-needed coimeition with Fiji and other outlying dipen- 
 deiicios. It will indirectly give a new means of commuiuca- 
 
16 
 
 tion witli Tndiii, tslimild tlio lines tlimngli Kurojie ami tlie Red 
 Si'ii liocoiiu' tliniugh war m- dthcr caiisi'S uiiiisaldc. Tlie new 
 line will civatcM-oninidu intoivstsln'twocn Australians and Caiia- 
 (iian:s it will hrinj; closer touftlier tlieu'reat ontlyingdivisiims 
 of the Knipiru ; it will plav an important part in fostering- 
 British eoinnierce and npiioliling the liritish tiagon the I'aeiiic. 
 I hund)ly think that the (;.'i4,000 per ainiuin.or whatever snin 
 ma^' he're([nirod to carry ont the proposal now het'ore the 
 (iovernnient, wonld more ailvanta,j^eonsly he expended on the 
 establishment of a new eahle across the L'acitie from Canada to 
 Anslralia. Canada has always been prepared to contribute her 
 full proportion of expenditure on works of an Imperial char- 
 acter. If she has ex|icndcd iifty millions of jiounds sterling 
 in building a great national highway from the Atlantic to the 
 l'acitie. who can doubt that she will lie ready to do her share 
 in establishing a lu'w telegraph from her western coast to Aus- 
 tralia. Is the ojiinion of the ColonialConterenee, unanimously 
 expressed, to be unheed.ilV Is it .'Xpcdient that Canada and 
 the Canailian r 'ite should iie wholly ignored? N A desirable 
 that any (^nirse should be followed which will (U'bar tlu' Cana- 
 dian Dominion ironi co-operating with her sister tlolonies and 
 with the Mother Country in a matter in which they each have 
 i. common interest ? T venture to thiidc that aid in the way 
 proposed to the existing companies would he fatal to any I'aeilic 
 telci^raiih : it would ossi'ntially be a sle|i backwards, and could 
 lead to no permanent e-ood, while the same outlay exjicnded 
 in another diiection would result in incalculable advantages. 
 J s])eak advisedly, and with a thorough knowledge ot what I 
 speak, when J say that thc^sum of xr)4.0t)0 perannun\ from the 
 Australian and Imperial Covernments, added to the assistance 
 which may reasonably be expected from Canada an(f from 
 other sources, wo\dil insure the completion of telegraphie com- 
 munication between Cireat liritain and Australia by the Cana- 
 dian route, and would reali/.e the tullilnii'ut of a national idea 
 pregnant with lasting advantage.* to the great and growing 
 communities under the one (lag on the three continents. It 
 would secure the comiiletion of an alternative line of eonimn- 
 nication — iJritish throughout — to .- .Itiply and strengthen the 
 ties which bind the Empire together. 
 
 " I trust I nniy be ]iardoned for pri'senting the subject as it 
 strikes a Canadian. However ungracious the task, I am im- 
 pelled by a sense ol duty lo seek the earliest opiiortnnity 
 earnestly to point out that in my humble judgment itwonhlbe 
 an error of grave magnitude, ccpuiUy in the interests of the 
 .Mother Country, Australia, and C'anada, to give etfect to the 
 proposal now under the consideration of the Government. 
 
 " r have the honour to be, 
 '• My l-ord, 
 
 '• Vour obedient servant, 
 
 "SANDFORD FLEMING." 
 
 Lrttir /row Cdoiiial Oilier to Mr. S'lndfonl Flemiixj, C.M.G. 
 
 " DowNi.N'c. Stiieet, 7th July, 1M)0. 
 
 "StK, — I am directed by Lord Knutst'ord to acknowledge the 
 receipt of your letter of the 'itith ultimo, in which you draw 
 attention to the evils wbii'h you consider would accrue if Her 
 Majesty's Goviu-nment slmuld entertain the proposal to join the 
 Australian ('olonies in sharing the payment of the present 
 cable subsidy, and in a guarantee to tlie Eastern and Eastern 
 
i^ 
 
1« 
 
 Extension Telognipli Cumpanics, in lonsiJerution of tlie 
 rciliiction in tliu tclt'irniiili rates. 
 
 '' In ilmnl<insf vnu Inr Vdiirdliscrvntinns, \vlii<li liavclieon laid 
 lief.nv tiio L.'i'iisV..mini'ssi(inors nltiic Troasury, I am ilesiml 
 tc'ic't'crviai totlic answer jriven l)y Mr. .hu ks<in to Sir G. Baden- 
 rowoll in tlic House of ("onnnoi'is on tlio li2tli ultimo, in con- 
 nection witi] this iiroposiij. 
 
 " I am, Sir. 
 
 " Your oliedient servant, 
 ".lOlIX 15RAMST0X " 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 On .luiic 12tlu in the Ilouse of Cominona, Mr. Jackson, in 
 rejilv to Sir O. r.aden-rowell, intimated that Her Majesty's 
 Government had not been alile to accede to the proposal to join 
 the Australian Government in the propo.sod guarantee to the 
 existing Telegraph Company. On the 17th, Mr. Goschen 
 further discussed the question with the Agents-General, and 
 promised that riie matter would lie fidly reconsidered, and a 
 detinitive reply given. Tlie aliove letter of July 7th, from the 
 Colonial Office, goes to show tluit Her ^^aiesty's Government 
 remains in the jiosition indicated by Mr. Jackson on June 12tli. 
 
 These lettei-9 were printed and forwarded to many leading 
 Australians and New Zealanders. along with the lollowing: — 
 
 '• 7') Aiisiraliiins m)'! Xen^ Zealanders. 
 
 •• V.KS.wwi Oi'HCEs, 17, Victoria Street, 
 
 " London, S.W., July 18, 1890. 
 " Fellow Colonists, 
 
 " I Ijcg leave to address you on a subject of more than 
 ordinary iniiiortaiuc at the present moment, when your Colo- 
 nies are completely cut oil' telegraphically from the rest of the 
 world. 
 
 " The accompanying correspondence with Lord Knutsford 
 refers to the tralKdrevenue guarantee, proposed to be given to 
 the Eastern and luistern Extension Telegraph Compaiues. I 
 have the best authority lor stating that my letter of June 26th 
 fairly expres.ses the Canadian view of the case. 
 
 '• AVhile the reply of the Secretary of State indicate.s that 
 the Home (iovernmcnt declines to join in the guarantee, there 
 is. as 1 am informed, some probability that the Australian 
 Governments may, under fon-e of circumstances, accept the 
 trrms offered by the existing Telegraiih Companies. I venture 
 therefore as a fellow colonist to ])oint out that by co-operating 
 with Canada a much more advantageous arrangement can be 
 etfected. 
 
 "The ju'oposed guarantee to the I'^astern and Eastern 
 Extension Telegraph' Companies, it is estimated by the repre- 
 senlalives of ihcne couipariics, would add to the liabilities of 
 the Australasian t'olonies, X54,000 more or h'ss per annum. 
 
 " The length of cable to reach across the Pacific from 
 Canada to New Zealand and Australia, allowing 20 per cent 
 for slack, is estimated by competent authorities at 8,900 miles. 
 
17 
 
 A cablf of tlio very licsf type can be laid ovor tliisdiHtancL' for 
 less than t1,7.)0.000 ; it is |porlcitiy sat'i' tlicrctbiv to take tho 
 oiitsidi^ iMHt ill round iii^iin's at tl,H(iO,000. 
 
 " [ liavcoisowlicrcfiivi'ii ,t;ood reasons wliy this tahlo should 
 iio a puhlii' uiidi'i-takiiig, owikmI liy the ( iovcrnmonta, worked 
 and nianiiiiod under a (ioveniineiit Superintendent. 
 
 " If so esialiiinhcd, the whole eapital, under a joint (iovern- 
 inent u,iiarMiit.'e. could be raised at ainnit 3 per cent, and would 
 involve an annual eliarjri' of i;')4,0il(). 
 
 " [ have elsewhere niveii iiidisputahle evidence that tole- 
 jrnipli niessajr<'sniay lie sent between Eiiirland and Australusiu 
 by tlie Caiiatliaii route at les.s than oiKM|iiarter the present 
 raterf. 
 
 " I need scarcely ask which course should he followed The 
 question is, should a nionoiuily ol telegraph business bo built 
 U]) ill the hands of tiic exist'ing Companies, or is it in tho 
 pulilic interest to establish an independent lini', owned by the 
 public, and under (ioverniiieiit Kintrol? The one course 
 would' reduce the cost of telegraph inossagcs to one-half tho 
 lirescnt rates, and add a liability ti. the Australian Cohinies 
 esliiuatecl at tf)4,0(!0 jier annuni. The second course would 
 reduci^ the cost of messages to one-quarter the present^ rates, 
 and involve no heavier annual charges, while the £r)4,000 
 guarantee would be shared by Canada, and, I trust I may 
 .add, by the Mother Country. ' Moreover, the cable would he 
 owned' by the contributing Covermiienis, and _ the prolits 
 would accrue to reduce, perhaps eventually extinguish, the 
 interest charges. This is merely the linancial view of the 
 (piestion ; its momentous political aspeet is dealt with in my 
 letter to Lord Kiiutsford (aiqiciided), and in other documents 
 submitted to ller Majesty's ( invcrnment. 
 
 " The Admiralty has had in hand the work of sounding the 
 new route sin-e the beginning of 1888, so that there can bo 
 nothluii; to prevent the survey being complete(l during tho 
 iiianufactnre of the cable, and tlie whole laid within two years. 
 
 '• At this inoment, when the e.xi.sting cables are broken 
 down in three ]ilacos, I feel it a public duty to submit the case 
 as it now stands for your earnest consideration. 1 humbly 
 think 1 have shown how you may s[ieedily and on easy terms 
 obtain cheap telegraphy and tho "incalculable advantages of an 
 alternative line bj' the Canadian route. 
 
 " I have the honour to bo, 
 
 " Your obedient servant, 
 
 " SANDFORD FLEMING." 
 
 This correspondence is incomplete without the following 
 letter from Sir John Pender and Mr. Fleming's reply thereto. 
 
 Letter from Sir John Peiuler to Mr. S'indford Fleming. 
 
 "The Eastern Extensmn Australasia and China 
 "Telehraph Company, Li.vuted. 
 "Winchester Hol'se, 50, Old Bhoad Street, 
 
 " LoNiioN, E.C., 2'.ind July, 1890. 
 
 " Dear Mr. Saniikokd Flemino,— I have read your circular 
 letter of the 18th instant, together with the annexed corres- 
 pondence with the Colonial Ortice on the subject of the recent 
 unfortunate interruption of telegiai>hic communication with 
 the Australian Colonies, and tho establishmeut of an alternate 
 
:^" 
 
18 
 
 I'lKitt' rill tlic I'iirilli', iiii.l if tile viirinii-i (ioviiiiini'iils intfi'ditoil 
 arc (li'tcrrniiu'il to havi' ii liin' luioss tlic I'aritic, iitul arc jnc- 
 jmicil til iiH'iif tlic rt'i|iiisitc' i'X|icii(litiii'c Wiv tlic ]iiiiiiiisc, 1 am 
 quite I'lmdy as I liuvi' alwavH tuld you, to i'()-()[)ci'atc in cairv- 
 iiig out tlic wiirk 111! fair and ivascmaMc terms, and in this 
 way tlu' iilijcct Miii;lit lie attained more easily and economical! v 
 tliari if third parties Were eni|iloy(>d. Hut if it should lie dc- 
 cicled to estalilisli a Pacific conimunication as a separate and 
 distinct uiidci'takiii^', Ironi the cxislinj;' lines, it must not be 
 I'oi'ifolten that two cahlcs across the I'acific will lie rc(|Mired, 
 which, accordinj,' to your own liu'iircs would coHt t:;),l!(IO,0(IO, 
 or tlOS,i)(li) per annum, as one liiu' could no more lie relied 
 upon ill the I'acilic than in the Java seas, where all (Uir tlirco 
 (•allies hotweeii .fava and Au^!ralia wci-c sinhlcnly and simul- 
 taneously interruiited hy oarthquako a fe\\ days ago. 
 
 " Fortunatoly, liowevor, this is a very rare occurronco, onlv 
 one ]irevious interruption of the kind haviiic: oiciirred on our 
 system tliiriiiir a period of over 20 years. .Vforetiver, the Java 
 seas are mostly shallow, so that repairs can he easily and 
 promptly tiiadc, as in the present instance, while the I'acitic 
 Oi'caii is not only suhject, ]ierhafis in a ^'reater dciirec than 
 the tiava waters, to MiKiiiiic (iisturhances, hut the depths are 
 so ji-reiil that repairs would he nio>t ditKcult and costly when 
 an interruption occurred. 
 
 "'riie cost of maintainiiii; the present system amounts to 
 over XlOtt,0(iO per annum. 
 
 "I am lookinjj; forward, if sfiarcd, to visitiiiif llonii' Kong 
 next year, travclliiiu- throuii;li Canada hy the Canadian I'acitic 
 line, when [ hope to inspect that wonderful un<lcrtakiiig in 
 \yhich you have played such a iiromiiient }iart, and at the same 
 time disiMiss with you the hest means of estahlishing closer 
 telegraphic communication hetween Canada antl the Austral- 
 asian Colonies when the time is ripe for carrying out tlie work. 
 
 " Faithfully yours, 
 
 "JOIIX I'EXDER." 
 
 " l'.!^. — Your letter to Lord Knutsford ignores the fact that 
 there is at present an alternative line to India vin the West 
 and East Coasts of Africa (piite independent of the Red ^ea 
 route.'" 
 
 Letter from Mr. Samlj'ur,! Flnnimj to Sir John Pender. 
 
 "17, Victoria Sr., Loni'ON, S.W., 
 
 "July 24th, 1890. 
 "Sir JoiiM Pknder, 
 
 " ."iO, Old Kroad St., London. 
 
 " Deau Sik John, — I received late last evening your favour of 
 the ±2nd, and desire to thank you for it. I am very glad to 
 iind jou are coming to realize that it is ahsolutcly necessary 
 to have an alternative cable to Australia by way of Canada 
 and the I'acilic. I have always held and I now hold that the 
 means taken to establish the new telegrajih connection is en- 
 tirely secondary pmvided that the new line be secured. Its 
 estalilishment hy whate\er means is the primary consideration, 
 and it is for the Governments concerned to decide how it is to 
 be done. In my humble judgment if they consult ec<inomy 
 and desire to secure cheap telegraphy, they will act wisely in 
 making the work a public undertaking and in retaining it in 
 their own hands under an eflicient management. 
 

y 
 
 111 
 
 " I iiiitiie wliiit you ciiy iilioiit liiiviiii.' l«'i iiililoH iicnws llic 
 I'lU'itif nil lunmnt i>f iinHBililc iiiU'r'M|ifiiiii>*, Imf it Hceiimti) me 
 \\\\* i'iiiii'liisit)ii (111 your piirt is scurculy luiiicui, if iw ynii nay 
 iiitcriiiiitiiiiw rtrc ho ((xcci'dinuly nut'. A lirciikilnwii unci' in 
 twoiitv voaiH wuiild not of ilscit' innfify tin; liiyini? ot ii suomil 
 ciililf iit'iui iiililitioiial (•o-<t of tl.HO(i,iHI0. 
 
 " Art! voii, iiowcvcr, i|inti' iicciiratu? Is it tlio riiHo that in- 
 turrii|iiioiis on yoiii' calilc arc ^<o inl'iciiiicnt '. I iiuvc a list iic- 
 forc inc by wliirii it wuiiid apiicar that llic I'laslorn KxIciiKion 
 ciihii-* hctwi'fii Inilia ami Aiistiaiia iiavc hmk. ' down tliirty- 
 six tinic'!* within thu last ciL^htccn ynii^ and oi lln'sf, fourteen 
 hreukH wiTo botwccn I'ort Darwin and lianjoi'wuuirit', ih" ncur- 
 ont Ht'otion to Australia. F notice also that one of tho foni'lccn 
 bruak-dowiiH rcfcircd to < Muscd an intcnii|)tion of four months 
 imd imothcr of thrcu tnonths and a half. Tlio otIuT intciTUp- 
 tions were p'ucrally for much whorlcM' pciiods. It in ([uitotrue 
 that vou now have nioi'c than one cable on that section, but 
 I do not sec thai duiilicatini;, even lri|ili<'alin,Lr th(^ cables on the 
 same route is an ab-nliite security from inleiruptioMs us shown 
 l)y the siinultaiieons brcakin,i? down of all three cables tor u 
 liurioil of ten days duriiiij; tlie presenl month. 
 
 " He all thai as it may, my conteiitiiMi is himply that a lino 
 from Australia to Knglimd by way of ( 'iinada would be a ifreiit 
 advanlaifi! all round. 'IMiat to Australia and Xew Zealand, it 
 would be better than rulyinj,' wholly on the one e.Kistinj; route. 
 To these I'olonics it wouhl irivt^ two ^trinuv. to their bow, and 
 tiuit is I'onimonly held to be un advantage. Yon say that 
 under certain cir<iimstanees two cables across thu I'acitie will 
 be rei|uirod. In this I am not (lisiio.sed to disasjreA' with you, 
 as I believe more than two will eventually be rc(iuired, but let 
 us luivc one at a time, and the sooner we t;ct that one the 
 butter. In after years other cables <an be laid as they are re- 
 quired to meet the demands of a wonderful develo|)ment of 
 eimmmrcu which 1 am satisfu'd will come in the not distant 
 future. 
 
 "You sui:i;est I hat repairs in the deep water of the Pa<'itio 
 Would b(^ most difiicult and costly. Let mo remind you of the 
 fact established bv experience on tlio line between Lisbon and 
 Pernambuco passiui^ through waters about the same depth as 
 the I'aiiiic that no I'cpairs of any conae<[Uenee have been found 
 net'ossary in the deep water suction of that line, since it was 
 laid smni' tUirtoen years asjo. 
 
 •' Ueferrinjr to the |iost.<cript of y..ur teltt'r. there is indeed a 
 cable laid roi'ind the west and east coasts of Africa coimectiui^ 
 Enirland with .\den in iha* way. but that line of cables passes 
 throuirb iiii less than ten foi'cii^n ports, l)ejrii\niuu; with J,isbon 
 and endint; with Mo/.iimbii|ue. ^'ou are aware too the exist- 
 ence of that line did not obviate the necessity so recently as 
 the month otMay last of sendinj;; Australian messai;es through^ 
 Russia. Siberia, i'liimi and French Cochin-Chiua, when two of 
 your cables east of Aden broke down. 1 still think I was 
 strictly correct in the statement to Lord Knulslbrd respecting 
 the pmposed Pacific cable: 'It will indirectly give a nen- 
 means of communication with India -diould the lines tlirough 
 Europe and the lied Sea become tliroujib war or other cause 
 unusable.' 
 
 " Receivi' my thanks for your friendly letter and tor the evi- 
 dence it conveys to my mind that you are prepared lo accept 
 the conviction that Caiiaila and Australia must be connected 
 telegraphically. In this you merely evince your usual wise 
 discernment, imil few men have it in their power in a larger 
 degree than you to hasten the ndvancement of a jaiblic under- 
 taking fraught with so many advantages to the Colonics and 
 the Em[>ire. 
 
 " Y'ours faithfully, 
 
 "SANDFORD FLEMING." 
 
^^' 
 
Fu-^^ 
 
 20 
 
 Tlic l)i'oakiii,t,'<l(i\vii ofthecabk's (.(' tlie Eastern Extension 
 Conipany an<l tlic (Mimiiloie tcleji-raiiliic isolation of tlie wliole 
 nt' tlie Australasian ('dlnnies was an emcro;cnc.y which, 
 while it lasted, npeiieil the eyes of all thinking men at home 
 ami ahroatl ti> the value ot the proposed I'acilie cable, and more 
 especially to its vital importance to Australia and to Great 
 Britain. Vhe correspondence brouiiht the question of an alterna- 
 tive route between England and Australia to the attention of 
 men in otHcial circles, and it could scarcely tail to have had 
 sonn^ ctreet in showing them that in the common interests of 
 the Colonies aiul the Empire it was daily becoming more and 
 m.u'e cxi>cdient to push forward the nautical survey under- 
 taken by the Admiralty so as to hasten the period when a 
 cable would be established across the Pacitie. 
 
 The facts set torth in these letters had, however, no effect in 
 a<relerating the work. Judging from results they seem to 
 have had the opposite eftect, for according to information 
 recentlv obtained, it appears that the "Egeria" was immedi- 
 ately withdrawn from her .v.u-k in th.e Pacitie, that surveying 
 operations were stopped, and ;aoreover, that tliey have never 
 since been resumed. 
 
 Canada and the Australian Col.Miics were deeply interested 
 in the work so suddenly brought t.. an unlooked-for end, they 
 believed this work to be in complete accord wivb Imperial 
 policy, and lor this and other reasons alluded to in the first 
 part "of this statement, they specially desired that it should be 
 undertaken by the British Admiralty. They repeatedly repre- 
 sented that it should be prosecuted with vigour, and they asked 
 to be allowed to share in the cost. All efforts, however, ta-'ed to 
 have the survey accelerated, yet there was reason to suppose that 
 under the orders issued to the " Egeria," if progress would 
 not be rapid it would at least he contimious. There was no 
 reason to think that the work would be discontinued in its iti- 
 complete state, and it is to oe regretted that when discon- 
 tinued no information of th, fact was conveyed to the Colonial 
 Governments. Only quiti recently has it been learned that 
 surveying operations bad been su.^^pended, and after repeated 
 intiuirios for particidars an answer has now come from tliti 
 Admiraltv dated the ".0th of last month, conveying the unwel- 
 come intelligence that the "Egeria" had been removed in 
 Septefnber, 1890. Thus for some unexi>laincd reason the sur- 
 vey had been brought to an end three and a half yes. rs ago. 
 
 Ottawa, 20th February, 1894.