§ MR. LAIRDsaid, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether anything has been done relative to the admission of English Salt into France under the new Treaty, and whether any Communications had been received from Lord Cowley on this subject?
§ MR. LAYARDsaid, in reply, that there had been an understanding with the French Government, that the question of the importation of salt into that country, not having been settled under the Treaty with England, should be regu- 1038 lated by the Tariff fixed by the Treaty to be entered into between France and Belgium. Owing, however, to some difficulty which arose during the negotiations on the subject, that arrangement had not been carried into effect. It was then hoped that when the Tariff arising out of the Treaty between France and the Zollverein was issued, the question of the importation of salt would be disposed of by it. That Treaty, however, had not been concluded, and therefore nothing had been done in the matter as between this country and France. The Government were, however, anxious that some steps should be taken in regard to it, and instructions had been sent to Lord Cowley to press the subject on the attention of the French Government.