Science in Public Affairs 



bound to monopolise the import trade of the self- 

 governing colonies, and that no organised effort 

 was needed to maintain it. However that may be, 

 there have been no annual reports from these colonies, 

 nor are there such even at the present time. Pre- 

 sumably also there was no one available for this 

 work, as it would scarcely be suggested that the 

 ordinary staff of a governor in a self-governing 

 colony would be capable of much beyond orna- 

 mental and social functions. 



When Mr. Chamberlain went to the Colonial 

 Office, with the avowed object of fostering Imperial 

 trade, he was struck with the weakest link in the 

 chain, and he caused a circular letter to be issued 

 to the colonies, in which he sought to ascertain the 

 best means for attaining the following objects : 



(a] The regular transmission to this country of 

 such commercial information as will, if possible, 

 anticipate inquiries. 



(b) The establishment of a recognised system 

 under which such inquiries as cannot be answered 

 in the Intelligence Branch may be referred to the 

 colony to which they relate. 



In 1900 an Advisory Committee on Commercial 

 Intelligence was appointed in connection with the 

 Commercial Intelligence Branch. It consists of 

 representatives of the Board of Trade, the Foreign, 

 Colonial and India Offices, and a sprinkling of 

 manufacturers and Members of Parliament, to 

 whom colonial representatives are now being 

 added. From its first Report, 1 which has just 



1 Cd. 2044. 



