§ MR. GOSCHENasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether it is true that the Dutch Chamber has refused to ratify the Convention for the abolition of bounties on the export of refined sugar, which was agreed upon by delegates from Great Britain, France, Holland, and Belgium at a conference at Brussels in July 1875; and, if so, what steps are proposed to be 74 taken in consequence by Her Majesty's Government?
§ MR. BOURKE,in reply, regretted to say that the Dutch Chamber had refused to ratify the Convention alluded to. Negotiations were, however, being conducted at the present time between Her Majesty's Government and the other Powers interested in the matter with the view of ascertaining whether it was possible to attain the object contemplated by the Convention. The sugar refiners of this country were perfectly well aware that this was a subject to which Her Majesty's Government had paid great attention, and they intended still to pursue the same object with the view of obtaining the desired results.