§ MR. CHARLES PALMERasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the Director General of Customs in Paris has issued a Circular withdrawing some of the rights and privileges which have been enjoyed by the agents or consignees of ships entering 980 French ports; if so, whether Her Majesty's Government, in the interest of shipping, have taken any diplomatic action upon such a retrograde proceeding on the part of the French Government; and, whether any, and what, progress has been made with the long pending negotiations to obtain a withdrawal or satisfactory modification of the oppressive monopoly conferred by authority of the State upon a limited number of ship brokers in most of the French ports?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICELord Lyons has again lately pressed the French Government for an answer to the representations made on behalf of Her Majesty's Government on the subject of ship brokerage in France. His Excellency's attention will be called to the Circular referred to by the hon. Member, who will be informed of the reply received.