§ MR. BOURKEasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the impediments now placed in the way of British Trade in the Portuguese Settlements on the West Coast of Africa will be extended to the Congo, if the alleged claim to Sovereignty over that river by Portugal is formally recognised by Her Majesty's Government?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICENo, Sir; they will not. As I stated in reply to my right hon. Friend the Member for Bradford (Mr. W. E. Forster) on Monday last, the commercial aspects of these negotiations are securing the closest attention of Her Majesty's Government.