§ SIR BERNHARD SAMUELSON (Oxfordshire, Banbury)asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he will state, for the in- 1333 formation of the Chambers of Commerce and of traders and manufacturers generally, what is the character of the facility which the Marquess of Salisbury, in his letter of the 6th of May to M. Waddington, assured him Her Majesty's Government would be very happy to afford to exhibitors who may be desirous of contributing to the International Exhibition to be held in Paris in 1889?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JAMES FERGUSSON) (Manchester, N.E.)The facilities to be afforded by Her Majesty's Government to contributors to the Paris Exhibition must depend upon the requirements of such contributors, and the ability of Her Majesty's Government to grant them. There may be some feasible under the Customs Regulations. The undertaking by the Marquess of Salisbury quoted by the hon. Baronet was mentioned in response to a request of the French Ambassador, which was as follows:—
In the event of the Government of the Queen not being able to afford official participation, the French Government would receive with satisfaction the assurance of their unofficial support in giving all publicity to the documents relating to the Exhibition, and in guaranteeing to British subjects all necessary facilities in regard to carriage and Customs duties.
§ SIR BERNHARD SAMUELSONasked, whether the facilities would be granted by the French or by the English Government?
§ SIR JAMES FERGUSSONsaid, there were always questions with regard to the return of articles exhibited; but he did not pretend that the facilities which the Government could afford were very considerable.