§ MR. SLAGGdesired to give Notice that on Tuesday he would ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, What position this country occupies under the French Tariff on our exports to France?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEI think, Sir, that it will be convenient if I answer at once the hon. Member's Question. From communications which have passed since the date of my last reply, I am enabled to state that there was some doubt on Saturday apparently in the mind of some of those who have drawn up the French Bill, as to whether the French Bill which passed in the Lower House last week, and is waiting final sanction by the Senate to-day, actually and specifically renewed the English Treaties up to the 15th May, or whether it renewed the Treaties which grew out of the Cobden Treaty made subsequently between France and other countries, and those only. We are now assured by the French Government that the Conventions under which the trade will be conducted with France, from Wednesday next up to the 15th May, will not be those of the Cobden Treaty, which expires on Tuesday next; but will be the Conventions in force between France and all those other countries which have signed new Treaties with France. We have examined those Tariffs, and we find they are practically the same as ours. There is only one article on which there will be a higher duty than under the status quo, and that is an article in which no trade is done. With regard to the Navigation Treaties, we have reason to believe that Lord Lyons has signed, or will sign to-day, a Treaty continuing for 10 years the existing stipulations relating to navigation, treatment of subjects, trade marks, and the like—that is to say, all the questions besides tariff which are the subject of treaty at this moment.
MR. STAVELEY HILLDo I understand, Sir, that after Tuesday next we come under the "Most Favoured Nation" Clause under Belgian and other Treaties?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEThe Belgian is the most important; but some of the other countries have more favourable terms in regard to certain articles.
§ MR. BARRANI wish distinctly to understand whether from to-morrow till the 15th of May we shall be occupying the position of the status quo?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKETill the 15th of May it will be the status quo; and, as I have said, the only exception will be one article, in which no trade whatever is done.