HC Deb 26 February 1885 vol 294 cc1416-7
MR. TOMLINSON

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, What questions of policy prevent Her Majesty's Government from negotiating with the Government of Spain with the view of relieving the importation of British goods into the Spanish Antilles from the adverse differential treatment in respect to duties to which it is now subjected?

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

I am afraid that my hon. Friend has I misunderstood the reply which I gave on Monday. I then stated that whether Her Majesty's Government entered into negotiations with Spain respecting the admission of British goods into the Spanish Antilles was a question of policy; and it was not my intention to convey that Her Majesty's Government were prevented by questions of policy from entering on these negotiations.