§ MR. TOMLINSON (Preston)asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, What will be the combined effect upon British shipping of Article 8 of the Commercial Treaty between this Country and Italy, dated the 15th June 1883, which declares that the coasting trade is excepted from the provisions of the present treaty, and Article 15 of the Shipping Bounties Act of the Italian Parliament, which declares that Italian coasting trade is reserved to national vessels, but that the Government may permit foreign vessels to engage in the coasting trade for five years from the date of the present Law, on terms of complete reciprocity; whether a British vessel calling at more than two places on the Italian coast in one voyage is deemed to be engaged in the coasting trade; whether the result will be in the near future to destroy the trade at present carried on in British vessels of large tonnage which generally require to call at several ports to make up a cargo; and, whether any negotiations are pending with the Italian Government with reference to the effect of the Italian Bounty Act on British shipping?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. BRYCE) (Aberdeen, S.)The Italian Government stipulated that the coasting trade should not be included in the Treaty of 1883, but should remain subject to the laws of the respective countries. The combined effect of the Treaty and of the Italian Shipping Bounties Act is to be gathered from the text of these documents. The fact that a British vessel calls at more than one Italian port under the circumstances stated in the second paragraph of the Question ought not, in my opinion, to cause such a vessel to be deemed to be engaged in the coasting trade. I do not, therefore, see reason to expect in the near future the result suggested by the hon. Member in the third paragraph. No complaints have been hitherto received as to the operation of the Shipping Bounties Act on British shipping, and no negotiations are pending with the Italian Government on this subject; but in the event of any injury resulting to British interests contrary to the provisions 1641 of the Treaty of 1883, the House may rest, assured that the matter would receive the immediate attention of Her Majesty's Government.
§ MR. TOMLINSONThen may I take it that Her Majesty's Government will resist the application by the Italian Government of the principle that a vessel touching at two places is engaged in the coasting trade? It is so believed at present.
§ MR. BRYCEAs I have already told the hon. Member, no complaints have reached us, and no negotiations are pending. I do not think it is at all to the public interest that I should commit myself to any further declaration.