§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEsaid, he understood it would be inconvenient to give a Return of the French Tariff of Customs Duties now in force; but he should be glad to know whether the Government could not supply the information in some other shape?
§ LORD JOHN MANNERSsaid, that by the 3rd Article of the Treaty of Commerce certain differential duties in favour of French shipping were recognized; he wished to ask the right hon. Gentleman the President of the Board of Trade whether he proposes to make any statement as to what these differential duties are?
§ MR. NEWDEGATEsaid, he wished to remind the right hon. Gentleman that the other evening he (Mr. Nowdegate) had asked when the changes in the tariffs of foreign countries, which are in preparation in his office, will be laid upon the table; also when the changes in the colonial tariffs will be before them?
§ MR. MILNER GIBSON, in reply, said that he had already stated that the changes in the rate of duty on foreign tariffs were in preparation, and he could give no further information at present. He understood that the colonial tariffs were under preparation also. The reason why the delay had taken place in the production of the papers relating to the change in the duties of foreign tariffs was, because they were made up to the close of last year instead of to August: with regard to the question of the hon. Baronet (Sir S. Northcote), the whole French tariff would be so voluminous that it would not be desirable to lay it on the Table of the House, but the Government had in preparation a paper containing the rates of duty on all articles of British produce and manufacture, which would shortly be laid on the Table, specifying also what 919 would be the maximum duties, supposing the Treaty to be adopted by Parliament. With regard to the question of the noble Lord (Lord J. Manners) as to the differential duties mentioned in the third article of the Treaty, his answer was that the differential duties might be considered part of the French navigation laws. So far as the direct trade between England and France was concerned, which would grow up under the Treaty, there were no differential duties, and English ships going to France and carrying British manufactures, or from any British possession in Europe, were placed precisely in the same position as a French vessel. The Treaty, however, was merely a treaty of commerce, and not of navigation and commerce. He should be happy to lay on the Table any paper wished for; but should be glad to know the precise point any hon. Gentleman might have in view, in order to give him exact information upon it.