§ MR. ANDERSONasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If the negotiations with Venezuela have yet resulted in the abandonment of the 30 per cent, differential duty imposed on British Colonial goods, in violation of the Treaty of 1825; if he is aware, that the Trinidad newspapers have a rumour that Her Majesty's Government, in place of insisting on the fulfilment of the Treaty obligations, is now trying to buy their fulfilment by handing over to Venezuela the small British Island of Patos, and if he can give a contradiction to the rumour; and, if any redress has been got by the owners or imprisoned crew of the vessel sunk in the Maturin River?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEWith regard to the differential duty, Her Majesty's Minister at Caracas has been instructed to submit to the Venezuelan Government certain proposals which, in the opinion of Her Majesty's Government, offer a reasonable and satisfactory solution of the question, and they have every reason to hope that they will be accepted by the Government of Venezuela. With regard to the third paragraph of my hon. Friend's Question, I have nothing to add to the answer I gave him on the 6th of March. Her Majesty's Government are still awaiting for the Report of the Governor of Trini- 901 dad. I have seen the statement in the Trinidad papers to which, the hon. Member refers. It is true that Her Majesty's Government informed the Venezuelan Government that, if the questions at issue between the two Governments are satisfactorily settled, their wishes in regard to the cession of the Island of Patos, which is a small and barren rock nearer to the Venezuelan coast than to Trinidad, will be favourably considered.
MR. MAC IVERIn consequence of the statement of the noble Lord, I shall move, at the earliest opportunity, a Resolution congratulating the Foreign Office upon the brilliant success which has attended their negotiations with the Government of Venezuela, and upon the marvellous progress of Free Trade principles throughout the world.