§ MR. W. E. FORSTERsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, When the new Tariff will come into operation, which, in the Commercial Treaty between this Country and Austria, was fixed to take date on the 1st January 1867; and especially, whether it will come into operation simultaneously with the new Tariff fixed in the Com- 653 mercial Treaty between Austria and the Zollverein—namely, on the 1st June of this year?
LORD STANLEYsaid, he regretted to state that the negotiations on this subject had not yet been brought to a final conclusion. The Government were fully alive to the importance of the subject, which continued to occupy their attention. On two occasions there had been a temporary suspension of the negotiations at the urgent request of the Austrian Government, in consideration of the many internal difficulties in which that country was involved, and also in consideration of the sincere desire which it was believed Baron Beust entertained to fulfil the intentions his Government had expressed towards this country. The new Tariff, therefore, could not come into operation upon the 1st of June; but he hoped before long to be able to give the hon. Gentleman and the House more ample and satisfactory information on the subject than lie could do at present. Under what was commonly known as the Favoured Nation Clause, England would derive the benefit of a considerable reduction of duties in the new tariff fixed in the commercial treaty between Austria and the Zollverein.
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERIs it a correct supposition that the Treaty between Austria and the Zollverein is fixed to come into operation on the 1st June?