§ MR. O. V. MORGAN (Battersea)asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he is aware that it is the custom of the United States Consuls in this country, when certifying an invoice of a shipment to the United States, to make a charge of 10s. 6d. as fee and a charge of 2s. 6d. for declaration; whether this charge of 2s. 6d. is also levied on German shippers to the United States; and, if not so levied, why are English shippers put at a disadvantage; and, whether he will use his best offices to have this inequality removed?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JAMES FERGUSSON) (Man-897 chester, N.E.) There is no information in the possession of the Foreign Office to the effect that any different charge is made by United States Consuls in this country to British and to German shippers; and the Board of Trade, of whom I have made inquiry, are equally unaware of such a practice. If any specific instance of such differential charges can be brought to the notice of the Secretary of State inquiries will be made, and, if possible, redress procured.