§ MR. SUMMERSI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, with reference to Article 1. of the General Act of the Conference of Berlin (1885) by which the Conference Powers agree to use their good offices with the Governments established on the African shore of the Indian Ocean for the purpose of obtaining their approval to the establishment of complete Free Trade within their respective territories, and in any case of securing the most favourable conditions to the transit (traffic) of all nations, the Conference Powers have used or intend to use their good offices in the direction indicated?
§ * SIR J. FERGUSSONHer Majesty's Government have endeavoured to obtain as far as possible the relief of trade on the African coast from burdens and hindrances; they have not felt it to be their special duty to press upon the Sultan of Zanzibar the abolition of all Import Duties, as their Commercial Treaty afforded sufficient protection. The Powers who were parties to the Berlin Act have now agreed upon certain modifications.