§ MR. CAINEasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, If it is true that negotiations are proceeding between the United States Government and the West India Association, by which the United States are to remit the Import Duties on West India sugar, and the West Indies are to take off the Duties upon certain articles imported from the United States, and that it is further proposed, with a view to equalising the reciprocity, that the Duties on these articles coming from England are to be maintained; if so, will he undertake that no differential Duties will be placed against English manufactures as against those of the United States?
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYHer Majesty's Minister at Washington has been instructed to enter into negotiations with the United States Government for a reciprocal commercial arrangement of the nature specified in the first part of the Question. With regard to the second part of the Question, I have to say that no such arrangement is contemplated and no such proposal made.