§ MR. J. B. SMITHasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, If he will inform the House whether France has up to the present time conformed to the obligations of the Treaty between Great Britain, France, Holland, and Belgium, made in 1864 for a period of ten years, called "The Drawback Convention," for the mutual adoption of classified rates of Duties on Sugar; if not, whether the Government proposes to enter into a fresh Treaty with that Country for regulating Duties on Sugar; and, if so, whether it is proposed to renew the Treaty for the unexpired term of "The Drawback Convention" of 1864, or for a longer period, and on what principles it is proposed the new Duties shall be levied?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER, in reply, said, it was true that France had not fully observed the Draw- 1027 back Convention of 1864, because she had failed to bring the drawback and the duty into the relation with each other defined by that Treaty. A Convention, however, was to meet on the subject, but he could not state exactly what it was proposed to do in that Convention. It was generally to consider the whole question, but more especially, he thought, whether it was expedient to introduce into the four countries the practice of refining in bond.