§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether it is true that the Government of the United States are now negotiating with the Government at Madrid for the admission of Cuban products into the United States upon advantageous terms as to Customs Duties; whether any reply has yet been received from the United States Government to the Despatch of Lord Granville, requesting that the British Colonies should be included in favoured nation treatment with the United States, and whether Her Majesty's Government will do all that is possible to expedite a settlement of this question; and, whether any negotiations are now being carried on by Her Majesty's Government with Continental Powers, with a view to obtaining a mutual settlement of the sugar bounties question by means of a Conference or otherwise?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEIt is understood that negotiations in the sense mentioned by the right hon. Member are about to take place at Madrid, and may possibly have been commenced. No answer has yet been received to the Note addressed to the United States Government by Mr. West on behalf of the British Colonies in the West Indies. Her Majesty's Minister will not fail to call attention to the subject again if, after a reasonable interval, no reply is received. As regards the European bounty question, no negotiations are at present being carried on by Her Majesty's Government. I may add, however, that the Board of Trade is the Department which deals with this part of the sugar question.