§ BARON HENRY DE WORMSasked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether, in view of the failure of the French Treaty, he will state or give a Return of the cost of translation of the French New Tariff under which British trade will be conducted after November next.
§ MR. CHAMBERLAINSir, I must preface my reply by saying that I do not quite perceive the connection which the hon. Member proposes to establish between the alleged failure of the French Treaty and the cost of the translation of the French New Tariff, and I must demur to the statement that the French Treaty has failed, or that British trade will be conducted, after November next, under the conditions of the New French Tariff. The fact is that negotiations have been suspended; but I am not without hope that the French Government will yet make propositions enabling us to resume negotiations under more favourable auspices. As regards the cost of the Return, I had intended for my own satisfaction to find out the cost of this and some other Returns asked for recently; but it is a difficult matter just now, because the clerks are fully engaged in certain other work. I will, however, endeavour to procure it, and when I succeed I shall have pleasure in laying the Return on the Table of the House.
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, supposing the negotiations fail, we shall then have trade conducted under the French New Tariff?
§ MR. CHAMBERLAIN, in reply, said, it did not necessarily follow, if the negotiations failed, that British goods would be subjected to the New Tariff. There was the "Favoured Nation Clause," and under it they might come in on special conditions.
§ Subsequently,
§ BARON HENRY DE WORMSasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether, if the French Treaty of 1860 lapsed, the "Most Favoured Nation Clause" would lapse with it?
SIB CHARLES W. DILKE, in reply, said, that that was so; but that it would rest with the Government to make a "Favoured Nation Clause" Treaty, or a New Tariff Treaty, or no Treaty at all. These were the three courses open to the Government.