HC Deb 22 July 1881 vol 263 cc1612-4
LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether by the Treaty between Austria and Servia the following articles are exempted from all duty on entering into Servia:—1. Machinery of all kind and agricultural implements; 2. All railway materials, plant, and rolling stock; 3. Coal; whether by "the Most Favoured Nation Clause" between this Country and Servia of 1880, British goods of these denominations would not have been equally exempt from import duties into Servia; and, if he would explain why Her Majesty's Government have foregone advantages which British trade and industry might have reasonably expected to derive from the possession of these privileges at a moment when considerable enterprises for national development are contemplated by the Servian Government?

SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFF

asked, Whether there exists in the Foreign Office any Telegram, Memorandum, Despatch, or other document relating to the discussion with the Servian Government on the duties on iron and steel, dated between the 22nd June and the 14th of July; and, if so, whether such document or documents can be laid upon the Table?

MR. CAINE

asked, Whether, under existing treaties with Servia, coals, Railway iron, and Railway materials are admitted into that country free of duty?

SIR CHARLES W. DILKE

The Question of my hon. Friend the Member for Scarborough (Mr. Caine) contains the answer to the chief portion of the Question of the noble Lord the Member for Woodstock. All railway materials and coal imported from Great Britain into Servia are admitted free of duty. As regards those articles, Her Majesty's Government have not, therefore, as the noble Lord supposes, foregone any advantages to British trade and industry. As regards machinery and agricultural implements, in which, from their nature, but little trade with this country is done, Her Majesty's Government have consented, as I have already informed the noble Lord only on Tuesday last, to make certain concessions on condition that the duty on woollen and cotton yarns, in which this country is much interested, is reduced from 8 to 5 per cent. In reply to the Question of the hon. Member for Portsmouth, I may state that the negotiations were conducted almost entirely by Mr. Gould and M. Marino- vitch, whose permission will be asked' consents, there will be no objection on the part of Her Majesty's Government to lay on the Table the private correspondence on the subject.

LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL

Where it is stated in the Despatch of Mr. Locock that coal, iron, and railway material could be introduced into Servia, duty free, from Great Britain?

SIR CHARLES W. DILKE

It is not stated in the Despatch of Mr. Locock. The noble Lord will find that, in the Treaty between Austria and Servia which has been laid before the House, coal and railway material and rails are exempted; and we obtain the advantage of the clauses in respect of those articles by our "Most Favoured Nation Clause" in our existing Treaty with Servia. I may also point out that we likewise obtained advantage of the optional, ad valorem or specific duties obtained by the Austrian Treaty, and by our "Most Favoured Nation Clause."

SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFF

Coal and railway material are mentioned as being exempted in the Tariff annexed to the Austrian Treaty. Agricultural machinery is also mentioned as exempted. There are three or four exemptions. Now, how does it happen that the exemptions, which apply to coal and railway material, do not extend to agricultural implements?

SIR CHARLES W. DILKE

Because there is a declaration between Austria and Servia. If the hon. Member wishes me to give chapter and verse, I shall be glad if he will give Notice of the Question. The reason is that these are articles to which exception was taken, and which Austria claimed as goods in the nature of Frontier traffic, and under the head of Frontier traffic is included agricultural implements. We objected all along, through a large Correspondence, to these articles being included under the head of Frontier traffic. By the concessions we have made on that point we have obtained a reduction from 8 to 5 per cent duty on woollen and cotton goods.