COLONEL HOWARD VINCENTI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to relieve the Colony of Trinidad 1593 from the extra impost of 30 per cent. levied for 12 years past in Venezuela upon all goods coming from that island and the Antilles over and above the heavy duties levied upon goods from any other part of the world; and, having regard to the injury this extra duty has inflicted upon the Colony most adjacent to Venezuela, if Her Majesty's Government will consider the expediency of conferring with the other Antilean Powers—namely, Franco, Holland, and Spain, upon the situation, should the removal of the extra impost not be favourably considered by the new President, General Crespo, and Senor Bojas, the Minister for Foreign Affairs at Caracas?
§ ME. S. BUXTONDiplomatic relations with Venezuela are still suspended, and consequently no steps have been taken at Caracas to relieve the Colony of Trinidad from the impost referred to in the first, paragraph of this question. Owing to this continued suspension of relations, Her Majesty's Government do not consider the present moment propitious for entering into any negotiations on the subject.
§ MR. S. BUXTONThat question should be addressed to the Foreign Office.