§ MR. GRAVESasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If the attention of Her Majesty's Government has been directed to the recent Act of the French Legislature for imposing differential duties on merchandise imported into France in Foreign Shipping; and, whether Her Majesty's Government have required that merchandise so imported in British ships should he placed on the same footing as if imported in the shipping of Austria, Belgium, Holland, Italy, Portugal, Germany, and others of "the most favoured Nations?"
§ VISCOUNT ENFIELDSir, Her Majesty's Government have been in communication with the French Government respecting the Act of the French Legislature referred to by the hon. Member for Liverpool (Mr. Graves). In reply, M. de Rémusat has assured Lord Lyons that the French Government do not intend to apply the new duties to jute, Indian cotton, or Australian wool, conveyed direct under the English or French flag. His Excellency has also repeated the assurance that the duties on merchandise of British origin or manufacture shall not exceed the prescribed tariff of the Commercial Convention of 1860. Her Majesty's Government are in constant communication with the French Government respecting the application to British shipping of the Customs' duties imposed under the recent Marine Merchandise Law.