§ MR. FORWOODasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the answer No. 276, given by Mr. C. M. Kennedy, C.B., head of the Commercial Department of the Foreign Office, before the Eoyal Commission on Depression of Trade, viz.—
That all United States goods…now enter Cuba and Porto Rico at the same rate of 1036 duty, whatever may be the flag of the vessel in which they are brought,is correct; and, if so, what is the date of the Treaty or agreement under which Spain extended to British ships trading from the United States to Cuba and Porto Rico the same privileges as regards the duties on merchandise conveyed by them as were obtained by the Government of the United States, for the vessels bearing their flag, in their Treaty of Reciprocity with Spain signed in 1884?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY (Mr. BRYCE)Mr. C. M. Kennedy, in his evidence before the Royal Commission on Trade Depression, in October, was under the impression that the Spanish Government had accepted the interpretation placed by the United States Government, as they informed Her Majesty's Minister at Washington, on Article 1 of the Commercial Convention of 1884—namely, that it applied to goods, the products of and proceeding from the United States, irrespective of the flag under which they might be carried. No report or complaint had then recently been received, and none has been since received on this subject. If the view above expressed is incorrect, and the hon. Member will request parties interested to send in a statement showing whether differential rates are now levied, their representations shall receive immediate attention.