§ MR. WIGGINasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he is aware that the French Government has issued instructions that, from and after the 1st of January last, Foreign sheathing supplied to Foreign ships in French ports shall be subject to the same Duties as those charged on similar supplies to French vessels, although the latter are compensated by the premium allowed by the State; and, if so, will he call the attention of the French Government to the unfairness of this Duty?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEThe French law of January 29, 1881, on the Mercantile Marine, enacted that on and after the 1st of January, 1882, copper sheathing of foreign make supplied to any ship, French or foreign, in French ports, should be subject to the Customs' duty chargeable on that article. As there has been no breach of Treaty stipulations, Foreign Governments have no ground for complaint.