§ MR. GRAVESasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If information has reached the Foreign Office that the Budget Committee at Versailles has recommended that a differential Duty of one franc fifty centimes per ton should be levied on Vessels 1847 under a Foreign Flag entering French Ports from Foreign parts; and, whether any representations have been made to the Executive of France that such a policy would be inconsistent with the privileges accorded to French Vessels in British Ports?
§ VISCOUNT ENFIELDSir, a proposal has been, I believe, made on the part of the French Government for the imposition of a tonnage duty of one franc per ton, on all ships, French or foreign, entering France, but nothing definite has been agreed upon. I believe that, in the opinion of the Board of Trade, such a proposal affords no ground of international complaint, and does not affect our Treaty.