DR. CAMERONasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether it is a fact that the French Government have introduced, or intend to introduce, a measure providing for the payment of a bounty of one and a half francs per ton on every ton of new shipping built in France for each thousand miles traversed in voyages to and from France; and, if so, whether Her Majesty's Government will exert their influence with the Government of France to prevent the enactment of a measure so re-actionary and so prejudicial to the interests of the British carrying and shipbuilding trades?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEA Bill to this effect has been before the French Chamber of Deputies for some months; but it has not yet become law. Her Majesty's Government will not fail to 540 call attention to the subject in the course of any negotiations which may take place between the two Governments.