§ MR. JACOB BRIGHTasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign 823 Affairs, Whether the Government had received an invitation from the French Government to enter into negotiations with them with regard to the Commercial Treaty?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKESir, I would ask permission to inform the House that an invitation has been received from the French Government to commence at once formal negotiations for the renewal of the Treaty of Commerce with France, mid that those negotiations will take place in London. The Commissioners for France will be his Excellency the French Ambassador, M. Marie (Director at the Ministry of Commerce), and M. Bouillat, French Consul General. in London. Her Majesty's Government will lose no time in appointing a Commission; and it is hoped that the first meeting will take place on Tuesday morning next. I may add that we hear from the French Government, that should a Treaty be concluded, it will not need to be presented to the existing Chamber, but would come for ratification before the new Chamber after the General Election. This will give ample time for negotiation.