§ MR. TOLLEMACHEsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether any reason has been assigned by the French Government for the delay that has taken place in making arrangements for the admission of English manufactured Salt into Franco, which subject has been under negotiation during the last six years?
LORD STANLEYI made inquiry, Sir, into this subject late in the autumn, and I then ascertained that the French Government had appointed a Commission to examine the question of the Salt Duties in that country. It was then expected that the work of that Commission would be ended very quickly; but it has since been intimated that the Report of the Commission, when issued, would have to be submitted to the Chamber of Commerce, Agriculture, and Industry before any steps could be taken upon it. I have written again on the subject within the last few days, but as yet have received no reply. When the Report is received, as I hope it will speedily be, it will be communicated to the parties interested.