§ MR. NORWOODasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether there is any negotiation pending with the French Government as to a modification of the Commercial Treaty between this Country and France; and, if answered in the affirmative, whether he is in a position to give an assurance to the House that the Government will not assent to any diminution of the period of twelve months' notice for the termination of the present Treaty, as specified therein?
MR. GLADSTONESir, I am not able to say that at present there is any negotiation between the two Governments in the stricter sense of the term. But there have been some verbal communications both in Paris between M. Thiers and Lord Lyons, and in London between Earl Granville and the French Ambassador. A law has been passed in France which imposes upon certain imports into that country duties higher than the duties imposed by the Treaty of 1860, and that law likewise contains other provisions which are undoubtedly of a nature to affect unfavourably the commerce between the two nations. The French Government, I need not say, admits in the fullest character the binding character of the Treaty, and its obligation to bring about a conformity between the stipulations of the Treaty and what they conceive to be the exigencies of the present condition of France. We have reason to expect we shall shortly receive from the French Government in a more formal shape than mere conversation overtures stating the different alternative methods of procedure, and making some proposals on the subject of this Treaty. At present I think my hon. Friend will not expect more than an assurance that we shall take no steps without anxious consideration, that we shall desire to communicate the earliest information both to Parliament and the country, and that we shall bear specially in mind the effect of any proposal which will be made not only upon commerce at large, but especially upon the current transactions of commerce.
§ MR. HERMONasked, whether the article of coal was likely to be affected by the new proposal?
MR. GLADSTONEI should not be justified in giving an answer on the subject of any particular commodity at the present moment, inasmuch as we have nothing before us but verbal statements.
§ LORD JOHN MANNERSasked, whether they were to understand that no future Treaty obligations would be entered into before the House had had an opportunity of discussing the terms of the Treaty?
MR. GLADSTONEI do not think I can go beyond the terms of the answer already given, when it is considered that the Government do not really know at this moment what the Government of France will suggest.
§ MR. NORWOODsaid, he wished to explain that he had put the Question because he knew that many mercantile men had formed contracts with France which would extend over many months, and the result of any alteration might be very serious to them unless care was taken that they should not suffer.