QUESTION. (Hansard, 4 August 1862)

§ MR. LAYARD

said, his hon. Friend was doubtless aware that the Treaty between this country and Belgium had not been ratified, and therefore it could not be submitted to the House. However, he would explain its chief provisions. The Treaty contained what was usually called "the favored-nation clause," with one or two exceptions, the nature of which he would state presently. The Treaty was a Treaty of Commerce and Navigation, and gave to British subjects all the privileges which were accorded to the subjects of any other nation. It provided that no duties of tonnage or others should be imposed on British vessels which were not imposed on Belgian vessels, and that no privileges should be accorded to the vessels of any other nation which were not extended to British vessels. It provided that goods of every kind legally importable into the ports of Great Britain and Ireland, our Colonies and Possessions, should be imported into such ports in Belgian vessels without being liable to other or higher duties than if such goods were imported in national vessels. It also provided that goods of every kind should be exempted from transit duty; but the prohibition with respect to gunpowder was maintained, and the two Powers reserved to themselves the right to subject the transit of arms to special authorization. The coasting trade of the two countries was to be reciprocal; and this article was applicable to the coasting trade of such of 1191 the British Colonies as should apply for it, conforming with existing Acts of Parliament. The Treaty also provided that the regulations for goods imported from France into Belgium under the Treaty of Commerce of the 1st of May, 1861, should apply to the same goods imported from Great Britain. But with respect to pure or mixed tissues taxed ad valorem, and the value of which was a matter of some difficulty, the Belgian Government reserved to itself the right of admitting such goods by the Custom House at Brussels. It was likewise provided that the subjects of both Powers should enjoy the same protection as native subjects in all that related to trade-marks, patterns, and models, subject always to the special regulations in each country. This stipulation of the Treaty was not to come into operation until the expiration of a year from the date of the signature. The Treaty also provided that British vessels should be exempted from payment of the Scheldt dues as long as the Belgian flag was exempted; and that if the Scheldt dues should be capitalized by a general European arrangement, the tonnage dues imposed in Belgian ports should cease altogether, and the pilotage dues in Belgian ports, as in the Scheldt, should undergo a reduction of 20 per cent on sailing vessels, 25 per cent on vessels towed, and 30 per cent on steamers. The Ionian Islands were to enjoy all the advantages accorded to the subjects of Great Britain, provided the Ionian Government would extend to the subjects and vessels of Belgium the same advantages which were granted to the subjects and vessels of Great Britain. Ionian vessels were to be furnished with a document signed by the Lord High Commissioner or his representative. The Treaty to continue in force for ten years, to be terminable at one year's notice after that period As a temporary exception to that article, it was provided— For two years, from October 1, 1862, the new system will be applied in the following manner:—Cotton yarns, twisted, warped, or dyed, are to pay the duties imposed upon single yarns unbleached or bleached, with an addition of five centimes for twisted yarns, ten centimes for warped yarns, and fifteen centimes for dyed yarns, per kilogramme. The duty on stuff or wool mixed with cotton is to be 22½ per cent until October 1, 1863, and 20 per cent until October 1, 1864. During the continuance of this transitory system, the importer may, at his choice, pay either 180 francs the hundred kilogrammes, or the duties stipulated. The duty upon printed cotton tissues shall be 150 francs the hundred kilogrammes. The present duty on the importation of foreign 1192 prints is to be maintained in the British tariff; the article relative to spirits, which is contained in the treaty between Belgium and France, of May 1, 1861, is not to be applied to British spirits, so far as regards the reduction therein stipulated, until October 1, 1865. The Treaty had not yet been ratified by the Belgian Chambers; when it had been, it would be ratified by the Government of this country, and would come into operation.