§ MR. CHARLES PALMERasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If he will state what has transpired with reference to the representations made to the Royal Commission for the French Commercial Treaty on the subject of ship brokerage in France; and, if he will lay before Parliament the correspondence on this question?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICESir, at the sitting of the Joint International Commission on the 30th of June, 1881, Sir Charles Dilke called attention to irregularities in connection with ship brokerage in France, and said that at the proper time a complete statement would be made on the subject. (No. 37 Commercial, 1881, p. 288). On the 22nd of September M. Tirard replied that the matter was regulated by law, and that "the reform of this organization cannot enter into the province of the negotiations." (No. 9 Commercial, 1882, p. 57). No opportunity occurred to deal further with the question in the Joint Commission. The matter has since continued to receive attention, and if my hon. Friend will move for Papers they will be given.