§ MR. MACFIEsaid, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If negotiations are in progress or completed for International Copyright Arrangements with the United States of America; if he will state the general 1596 tenour of these arrangements; and if Parliament will have an opportunity of considering them before they are confirmed in the form of a Treaty?
MR. OTWAYsaid, in reply, that as negotiations were still pending on that subject between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of the United States, it was impossible now to state what the tenour of the arrangements would be. The question was not unattended with difficulty, and his noble Friend the Secretary of State was very desirous of conferring with certain eminent authors and publishers on the subject. As to the last part of the hon. Gentleman's Question, he was informed that the General International Copyright Act might be put in operation by the Crown by Order in Council in favour of any country which conceded reciprocal advantages to this country. A Convention with the United States would be within the power given by that Act, and therefore would not necessitate further legislation on the subject.