Home > Series 17

Series 17: Panama-Pacific International Exposition, 1914-1916

In March 1914 Deakin accepted an invitation from the Prime Minister, Joseph Cook, to lead a Commission formed to organise an Australian Pavilion at the International Exposition held to celebrate the opening of the Panama Canal. The appointment was reaffirmed by Andrew Fisher following a Labour victory at the general election in September. Deakin's term as the President of the Commission was not a happy one. Early in 1915 he was attacked by Hugh Mahon, the Minister for External Affairs, for failing to mention, in a Commission report, that one Commissioner already in San Francisco had suggested Australia withdraw its representation because of the War. At the behest of the Acting Prime Minister, W.M. Hughes, Deakin did attend the Exposition. In May 1915, however, after Mahon replaced the Commission's Secretary D.B. Edwards with a personal friend, George Oughton, Deakin resigned and returned to Melbourne.
The series documents these events in some detail. There is correspondence dating from Deakin's appointment, together with Deakin's official report to Andrew Fisher, financial papers, speech notes, invitations, programs, certificates, pamphlets, press clippings and other printed material. Among the correspondents are Joseph Cook, D.B. Edwards, Andrew Fisher, C.K. Harrison, Hugh Mahon and C.C. Moore.
This series contains Items 17/1 - 17/944.

 

Subseries 17.1 Correspondence, 1914-1916
Dating from Deakin's appointment, including letters from Hugh Mahon accusing Deakin of suppressing the anti-Pavilion report, other letters supporting Deakin in the dispute, and correspondence concerning the building of the Pavilion, D.B. Edwards' recall, Deakin's resignation as well as that of the New South Wales representative, Niels Nielson. There are also drafts of Deakin's official report to the Prime Minister, Andrew Fisher. The main correspondents are Joseph Cook, D.B. Edwards, Andrew Fisher, C.K. Harrison, Hugh Mahon and C.C. Moore. This subseries contains Items 17/1 - 17/355.
Subseries 17.2 Receipts, accounts and other documents, 1915-1916
Financial papers relating to the activities of the Commission, including travel arrangements and social engagements. This subseries contains Items 17/356 - 17/399.
Subseries 17.3 Notes, memoranda, pamphlets, certificates and other documents, 1914-1915
Administrative papers, Deakin's notes regarding the activities of the Commission, the published Mahon-Deakin exchange (Commonwealth Parliamentary Papers, 1914-1917, volume 5), speech notes, an Honorary Doctorate of Laws given to Deakin by the University of California, a pamphlet entitled Photographic souvenir of the Exposition (n.d.) and other printed material. This subseries contains Items 17/400 - 17/495, 17/944.
Subseries 17.4 Press clippings and other documents, 1915
Largely concerning the work of the Commission, together with such issues as trade and the visit of the Young Australia League. This subseries contains Items 17/496 - 17/943.
Home > Series 17