§ MR. FENWICKsaid, he would beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether Her Majesty's Government have been in negotiation with the Government of Hanover, with a view to the extinction of the Stade Dues; and if so, what progress has been made in the negotiation; and whether any assurance 469 can now be given of an early and satisfactory settlement of the question?
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONThe Stade Dues are of the same nature as the Sound Dues, and, though it would no doubt be very desirable to get rid of them, that can only be done by negotiations, not with Hanover alone, but in concert with many other Governments interested in the matter. We have had communications for the purpose, but they have not yet come to such a point as to enable me to say that there is an immediate prospect of getting rid of the dues. Being of the same nature as the Sound Dues, of course they can only be got rid of in the same way—by compensation.