MR. JOHN MORLEYasked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether his attention has been drawn to the increase in the imports of sugar into the United Kingdom from Germany, in consequence of the large export bounties granted by that country, during the six months to 30th June last, as compared with similar periods in 1882 and 1881; whether he is aware that, owing to these large bounty-receiving imports from Germany, the British West India Colonies are now sending a large proportion of their sugar crops to the United States; and, whether, in view of this unnatural diversion of the trade between Great Britain and her Colonies, Her Majesty's Government will now make a serious effort to obtain the abolition of the practice of granting bounties on the export of sugar from the Continent, and especially from Germany?
§ MR. CHAMBERLAIN,in reply, said, the Question was one of a very controversial character, but he should endeavour to answer it with as little argument as possible; but he must not be taken as agreeing with the statement of facts or the inferences. It was true that there had been a considerable increase in the imports of sugar into the United Kingdom from Germany, but that increase appeared much larger when compared with last year than with the year before. He was by not by any means certain that that increase was in consequence of the large export bounties granted by that country, because he was not aware of any increase in the bounties during the period in which the increase in the imports of sugar had taken place. He was aware that the British West India Colonies were now sending a large portion of their sugar crops to the United States; but the actual amount which they sent to this country had practically 1492 remained stationary for many years past. He did not think, however, that their exports to the United States were due to these bounties. On the contrary, it seemed to him to be the natural course of trade, and not, as described by the Question, as an "unnatural diversion of trade," with the West Indian Islands that they should send a larger proportion of their products to the United States. In answer to the last part of the Question, he had to say that the Government did not think any useful purpose would be served by making any further representations to the German Government on this subject.