Calendar: 1899-1900 Page 701

REPORT xlix to time submitted for their consideration memoranda ex- pressing the views of the Council upon questions comprised in the reference of the Commission There are however two matters not strictly within the Commissioners' reference to which the Council think it right briefly to refer The present administrative centre of the University at Burlington House having ceased to be available the present Senate have been asked to accept accommodation for ad- ministrative purposes at the Imperial Institute and it is under- stood that this proposal is receiving their attention It is to be presumed that the accommodation offered will be suitable to the dignity of the University and that the present Senate will decline to enter into any agreement which may directly or indirectly commit the University of the future on questions which Parliament has entrusted for settlement to the Commissioners in the first instance and eventually to the new Senate under their statutory and constitutional powers on this understanding while regretting that more centrally situated site is not contemplated the Council wish to observe neutral attitude with regard to the proposal The Council of University College have it is stated approached the Commissioners with an offer to place their buildings their endowments and their whole establishment the Hospital alone excepted at the disposal of the University Your Council are not in possession of the details of what is proposed but it appears that in any case such an offer must come before the future Senate and if accepted by them must become the subject of legislative proposals in Parliament While desiring the closest possible relations between King's College and the teaching University of the future the Council fail to see how King's College in view of its essential character as an institution for providing religious education could ask the University to accept like offer When the time comes for the practical consideration of the offer made by Uni- versity College the Council will take all necessary steps to ensure that in any arrangement that may be agreed upon the relative positions of the University Colleges under the Act of last Session shall be preserved Without regarding the provisions of that Act as ideal the Council cordially accept them as the best that were practic- י