HC Deb 22 April 1864 vol 174 cc1503-4
MR. BLACK

said, he wished to ask the President of the Board of Trade, as the Duty on rags continued to be charged at Leghorn up to the 14th of this month, Whether he understands that the Duty is abolished by the Italian Government, or that there is an agreement that it is to be abolished, and when?

MR. MILNER GIBSON

replied, that he did not understand from the information Her Majesty's Government had received, that the Italian Government had abolished the export duty on rags. Misapprehension had arisen on that subject, in consequence of the treaty between France and Italy being rather ambiguous on that question. If France had obtained from Italy a free export of rags, of course England would have been entitled, under the favoured nation clause, to the same privilege, but at present they were not informed that the Italian Government had made any change in the system which was in force before the conclusion of the treaty with France.