MR. MAC IVERasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he can give any information with reference to the present position of 1073 the French Commercial Treaty negotiations; and, particularly, whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to insist that the export bounty system shall no longer be maintained to the detriment of British and of Irish sugar refining, as well as to the serious injury of our West Indian possessions; and also, whether, as regards Foreign produce generally, Her Majesty's Government will insist upon the abandonment of the "Surtaxe d'entrepot," so that importations into France, via the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, shall no longer be placed at a disadvantage as compared with similar goods when imported direct?
§ SIR CHAELE8 W. DILKEBy a declaration signed at Paris on the 10th of October, 1879, and laid before Parliament this year, it is provided that the existing Commercial Treaties between Great Britain and France shall remain in force until six months after the promulgation of the New French General Tariff, which is now under discussion in the French Legislature. No formal negotiations for a new Treaty are yet taking place; but communications are passing, and Her Majesty's Government are not without hope that they may result in the conclusion of a Treaty which will further develop the friendly relations between the two countries. The question of sugar bounties is under the consideration of a Select Committee of the House, and until they have reported it has been decided to suspend action in the matter. The question of the French surtaxe d'entrepêt will be treated in the course of any commercial negotiations with France.