HC Deb 14 July 1881 vol 263 c846
MR. BROADHURST

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether equal facilities were given to the workmen and the employers to place their views on the Tariff question before the Joint Commission which recently sat at the Foreign Office to inquire into that subject?

SIR CHARLES W. DILKE

Sir, the Joint Anglo-French Commission, in consequence of objection raised by the French Commissioners, did not receive directly representations from deputations of trades in the United Kingdom. These representations were, therefore, received by the Royal Commissioners, and by them placed before the French Commissioners. All those who desired to submit their views with regard to the proposed conventional Tariff were heard, the same facilities being given to all, whether workmen or masters; and, in fact, some of the most valuable speeches were made by those who represented the workmen. I need not point it out, however, for my hon. Friend is fully aware of the fact, that the matter in question is one in which the interests of the employers and employed is not divergent, but identical.