§ MR. ERRINGTONasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, 51 If he can state what is the present position of the negotiations with France relative to the labour traffic between India and the Island of La Reunion; whether, pending those negotiations, the traffic continues; and, whether Her Majesty's Government have yet received the new French Labour Code; and, if so, if he would leave a copy of it in the Library?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEThe International Commissioners brought their labours to a close, for a time at least, about the end of September last. The French Government were then drawing up a projet de décret, which it was agreed that the British Commissioners should see, to regulate the questions at issue. Lord Lyons has recently pressed the French Government for a copy of this decree, in order that Her Majesty's Government may be enabled to come to an immediate decision as to the continuance of the emigration from India. Her Majesty's Government have not been informed whether the emigration has as yet been prohibited by the Indian authorities; but the season will have closed as usual in October last, although some emigration may have continued by steamers, as the Convention allows. With regard to the "now French Labour Code," I presume my hon. Friend refers to the decree of which I have already spoken.