§ MR. BADEN-POWELL (Liverpool, Kirkdale)asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the existing Treaty of Commerce between France and Spain expires in 1892; whether the Spanish Government is willing, on certain conditions, to make effective, until the year 1892, the "modus vivendi" signed by Sir Robert Morier before he left Madrid; whether that "modus vivendi" would secure "most favoured nation" treatment for all English goods imported into Spain; and, whether, in maturing any alteration in the present tariff of Import Duties on wines, Her Majesty's Government will endeavour to secure that this "modus vivendi" shall be made effective until the year 1892?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. BRYCE) (Aberdeen, S.)Yes, Sir. The existing Treaty of Commerce between France and Spain will expire in 1892. I regret that I am not able at the present moment to add anything to the opinion which I have already expressed, to the effect that any commercial arrangement to be made with Spain ought not to be of a merely transient nature.