MR. MAC IVERasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, 1100 Whether the "Surtaxe d'entrepot" charged by France under the existing Commercial Treaty is practically equivalent to a protective Duty of about 24s. per ton against all Foreign produce imported into France viâ Great Britain; and if he can give the House an assurance that the abolition of this impost will be insisted upon in the negotiations for any new Commercial Treaty?
§ MR. BOURKESir, in answer to the Question, I have to state that the amount of the surtax is undoubtedly correctly stated by the hon. Member, and I do not think there can be any doubt that it is a protective duty in favour of direct navigation, whether under French or foreign flag, between the place of production and France, but it is not a differential charge exclusively Great Britain; it is charged, without exception, upon all nations and all shipping alike, on goods imported into France viâ any third country. With regard to the latter part of the Question, I do not think it would be prudent, besides at the same time being very inconvenient, for me to give any assurance beforehand of the nature of the conditions which Her Majesty's Government would require in negotiating for a new Treaty.
MR. MAC IVERgave Notice that on an early day he would call attention to the existing Commercial Treaty under which France exports to England to the value of about £45,000,000 annually, while placing such restrictions on our commerce that we are only able to send manufactured goods to the value of about £14,000,000 in return, and foreign and colonial produce to the value of about £11,000,000, and move a Resolution.