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A.—2

Should your Government desire to withdraw from the Convention, I have to request that you will so inform me by the 31st December next, in order that the necessary notice may be given to the Belgian Government through the usual diplomatic channel. I have, &c, J. CHAMBERLAIN. The Officer Administering the Government.of New Zealand.

No. 16. (No. 41.) My Loed, — Downing Street, 2nd September, 1896. With reference to your despatch, No. 27, of the 6th July, 1895, enclosing a memorandum by your Prime Minister on the subject of the grant of special campaign pensions to old soldiers living in the colonies, I have the honour to inform you that I have had some correspondence on this matter with the War Office, and that I have learnt that soldiers residing out of the United Kingdom are now equally eligible with those at Home for the grant of the pensions in question. I understand, further, that applications previously received from the colonies, and refused on the ground, that soldiers living in this country were to be granted precedence, will now be reconsidered if they are again submitted. I have, &c, R. H. MEADE, For the Secretary of State. Governor the Right Hon. the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G., &c.

A.-l, 1896, No. i.

No. 17. (General.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 3rd September, 1896. With reference to my despatch (general) of the 21st July last, con- No. n. cerning the grant of medals for distinguished conduct in the field, meritorious service and long service and good conduct to the colonial Permanent Forces, I have the honour to state that the Secretary of State for War has informed me that the Master of the Mint will be requested to strike specimens of medals for the colonies, and has asked to be informed of the colonial colour (other than red) which is desired for the line down the centre of the ribbon. I shall be glad, therefore, if you will furnish me with this information. I have, &c, R. H. MEADE, For the Secretary of State. Governor the Right Hon. the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G., &o.

No. 18. (Circular.) Sic, — Downing Street, 7th September, 1896. I have the honour to transmit to you the correspondence respecting the invitation conveyed by the French Government to Great Britain and the British colonies to take part in the Universal International Exhibition, to be held at Paris in the year 1900, together with copy of the Actes Organiques, which explain the scope and objects of the exhibition. The management of the British section of the exhibition will be intrusted to a Royal Commission, as to whose appointment and procedure I am not at present in a position to address you ; but, in view of the wish expressed by the French Government that a British delegate should be appointed at an early date to discuss with the French Commissary-General preliminary questions as to space, &c, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs proposes to depute Mr. Austin Lee, of Her Majesty's Embassy at Paris, to undertake these duties, as a temporary measure pending the constitution of the Royal Commission. 2—A. 2.