§ MR. MUNDELLAasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether Her Majesty's Government have considered that certain provisions of the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Bill, attaching to the importation of cattle from France, Austria, Belgium, and other European countries conditions less favourable than those which it is proposed to attach to the importation of cattle from America and elsewhere, appear to be inconsistent with the stipulations contained in the Commercial Treaties now in force with the Governments of those countries; and, if so, what changes they propose to make in the Bill to render it conformable with our treaty engagements?
MR. GORSTasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether Great Britain is not bound by Treaties with Austria, 1578 France, and other nations, to abstain from establishing against their productions any prohibition of exportation or transit, which is not, under like circumstances, applicable to all countries; and, whether the passing into Law of so much of Schedule V. of the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Bill as establishes a prohibition of importation and transit against foreign cattle generally, under circumstances in which an immunity from such prohibition is granted to the United States of America, would not be a violation of this Treaty obligation?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERSir, this Question has, of course, from its importance, commanded the attention of Her Majesty's Government, and no doubt we shall have, in the course of the discussions which will ensue on the Bill, to enter more fully upon it. But there is, of course, no doubt that we are bound by certain Treaties to abstain from establishing against the productions of various foreign countries any prohibition of exportation or transit that is not in like circumstances applicable to all countries. With regard to this Bill, it does not impose any prohibition upon exportation, but it does place certain prohibitions upon transit in certain circumstances; and there can be no doubt that any nation having the "most favoured nation" clause would be entitled to demand that the same prohibitions which apply to one country should apply to itself in like circumstances. The only question, of course, would be as to like circumstances. We are not of opinion that the Bill would prevent this treatment being awarded to any nation which might feel aggrieved in the matter.