§ Mr. MITCHELL-THOMSONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has yet received a copy of the official text of the proposed reciprocity agreement between Canada and the United States; and, if so, whether he will undertake to circulate a copy immediately?
§ Mr. LONSDALEasked the Secretary of State whether, in view of the uncertainty 13 prevailing with reference to the actual provisions of the reciprocity agreement between Canada and the United States, and the importance to the British business community of having full and reliable information on the subject, he will publish as early as possible the official text of the proposed agreement?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Colonel Seely)My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply to this question, and I may at the same time reply to the question of the hon. Member for Mid-Armagh. The text of the agreement has been received and will be published as early as possible.
§ Mr. JAMES HOPECan the right hon. Gentleman say when His Majesty's Government first received particulars of the agreement?
§ Colonel SEELYI could not say offhand; there was no loss of time.
Sir GILBERT PARKERCould the Government at the same time publish the speech delivered by Mr. Fielding, the Canadian Finance Minister on presenting the reciprocity treaty to the House?
§ Colonel SEELYI will consider that, and ask my right hon. Friend.
§ Mr. MITCHELL-THOMSONasked whether, as stated on page 5 of White Paper Cd. 5,537, the Canadian general tariff on tin-plates is 5 per cent.?
Mr. BUXTONThe statement to which the hon. Member refers relates to the duty at present leviable in Canada on imports under the general tariff of rolled iron or steel sheets or plates, No. 14 gauge, or thinner, galvanised or coated with zinc, tin or other metal, or not. The White Paper referred to correctly reproduces the statements contained in both the United States and the Canadian official documents with regard to the reciprocity arrangement, viz., that the existing general rate on these goods is 5 per cent. ad valorem. It appears, however, on inquiry that such a rate is at present levied on a portion only of the goods specified, and that tinplates are at present free of duty on importation into Canada both under the general and under the British preferential tariff.
MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEasked what is the present rate of import duty payable upon British and Canadian roofing slates entering into the United States, and what is the proposed duty upon Canadian slates entering the United States under the reciprocity agreement?
Mr. BUXTONRoofing slates, from whatever source derived are at present dutiable on importation into the United States of America at the rate of 20 per cent. ad valorem. Under the reciprocity arrangement it is proposed that the United States duty leviable on Canadian slates shall be 55 cents per 100 square feet.
MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEWill not this preference to Canadian slates have a detrimental effect upon the export of British slates to the United States?
MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEasked what are the present and proposed duties payable by Canada on entry into the United States upon laths, sawed boards, planks, deals, and other lumber, planed, tongued, grooved, or variously finished?
Mr. BUXTONI will circulate the answer with the Notes, as it is rather long. [See Written Answers this date.]
MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEWill not the effect be to decrease the supplies coming into this country, and, in consequence, to raise the price of wood in this country?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThis is not the time for asking the opinions of Ministers.
§ Mr. REMNANTasked the Prime Minister what steps were taken by His Majesty's Ambassador at Washington to assist the negotiations which resulted in the reciprocal trade arrangement between Canada and the United States of America?
Mr. McKINNON WOODAs was stated on the 16th instant, the matter originated purely with Canada, but it is, of course, within the duty of His Majesty's Ambassador to give such assistance as the negotiators for the Dominion may request and all British subjects are entitled to receive.
§ Mr. REMNANTMay I ask the Prime Minister whether we can have the details of the steps taken by the British Ambassador, and whether his attention has been called to the OFFICIAL REPORT of what the Postmaster-General in Canada said—namely, that the arrangement was not unfriendly to England, because it had been approved by the Government, and was made with the assistance of Mr. Bryce, the British Ambassador at Washington?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Asquith)That is a question to be put to the representatives of the Foreign Office, after notice.
§ Mr. REMNANTMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that I put a similar question to the Foreign Secretary on Thursday last, that he then asked for notice, and that the question down to-day is in response to his request that the question should be put down?
§ Mr. REMNANTA similar question, showing that Mr. Bryce had acted and given assistance all the way through. Will the Prime Minister answer if I give notice?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat is not a matter for me. The question should be addressed to the Foreign Office.
§ Mr. REMNANTI will give notice to the Foreign Office.
Sir GILBERT PARKERMay I ask whether the assistance rendered by Mr. Bryce included pointing out to the Canadian Government the effect the remission of duties on goods going into the United States would have upon British preference?
§ Mr. CROFTasked the Prime Minister whether the agreement between Canada and the United States has been approved by the Home Government and was arrived at with the assistance of the British Ambassador at Washington?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThe assistance which Mr. Bryce gave has already been stated on 16th February. The actual agreement arrived at by Canada does not require the official approval of His Majesty's Government.
Mr. McKINNON-WOODThe answer was: "The assistance which Mr. Bryce gave has already been stated on 16th February. The actual agreement arrived at by Canada does not require the official approval of His Majesty's Government."
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat can be discovered by referring to the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. REMNANTMay I ask the hon. Gentleman, as representing the Foreign Office, whether he has seen the. OFFICIAL REPORT of what the Postmaster-General in Canada said—that the British Government had approved of this?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member should give notice of that if he wants the quotation verified.