§ MR. RITCHIEasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether, if Holland were to offer abolition of the Sugar Duty in lieu of her engagement under the Sugar Convention entered into at Brussels last Au- 1479 gust, Her Majesty's Government would be prepared to accept the Treaty on such terms; and, whether the adoption of this course by Holland would lead Her Majesty's Government to advise the ratification of the Treaty?
§ MR. BOURKE, in reply, said, that Her Majesty's Government would hear with much satisfaction that the Dutch Government had determined to abolish the sugar duties. The abolition of the duty would evidently be the most effectual mode of abolishing bounties in that country. If, therefore, Holland were to make such a proposal, it could not be otherwise than acceptable as a fulfilment of her part in the arrangement come to at Brussels last year.