§ MR. RITCHIEasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether any, and, if so, what replies have been received from the Foreign Governments to whom invitations to a Conference on the subject of the Foreign export bounties on sugar have been addressed by Her Majesty's Government; also, whether the French Bill for giving bounties on the construction and running of ships has passed the French Senate; whether he can inform the House as to the nature of the amendments introduced into it by the Senate; and, what reply the French Government has made to the representations of Her Majesty's Government on the subject?
§ SIR. CHARLES W. DILKEThe Austrian and Belgian Governments have already expressed their willingness to take part in a Conference; but the German Government have declined. No reply has yet been received from the French or Netherlands Governments. As I stated to the noble Lord the Member for Liverpool (Viscount Sandon), the Bill to which the hon. Member refers has already passed the French Senate. The Papers which I laid on the Table on the 4th instant contain all the information on the subject which Her Majesty's Government possess. No communication with regard to this matter has been received from the French Government since the date of Lord Granville's despatch to Mr. Adams of the 30th of July last, which has already been laid before Parliament.
§ In reply to a further Question by Mr. RITCHIE,
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEsaid, that oral but no written communications had been made by the French Government on the subject since the month of July.