The decision of the Government to abstain from national official
participation in the Pa,namaExhibition at San Francisco, announced by Sir Edward Grey on August 5th last, has been confirmed by the Prime Minister. In a letter to the bon. secretary of the British Committee formed with the express view of inducing the Government to reverse or modify this decision, Mr. Asquith states that the Cabinet have carefully reconsidered the question, but are unconvinced by the argu- ments put forward. Mr. Asquith accordingly declines to receive a deputation on the subject. The reason given by Sir Edward Grey in August was that official participation would involve an expenditure of over 2250,000, which would be quite out of proportion to any commercial advantages likely to result therefrom. Canada and Australia have both decided to participate, while Germany has announced her decision to abstain officially, and these facts are capable of being mis- interpreted to our prejudice. But we cannot for a moment admit that the decision of the British Government was arrived at from any lack of consideration either for the United States or the Dominions. To put it bluntly, our manufacturers are " fed-up " with exhibitions. Ghent was a heavy burden, and Panama is literally the last straw.
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