HC Deb 31 July 1890 vol 347 cc1362-3
MR. SUMMERS

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, under Article I. of the General Act of the Conference at Berlin (1885), the Conference Powers agreed 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; and whether the Conference Powers did use their good offices in the sense indicated; and, if so, with what results?

MR. MUNRO FERGUSON (Leith, &c.)

I beg also to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether his attention has been drawn to that part of the Declaration of the West African Conference embodied in Article VIII. of the Anglo-German Agreement, and whether, therefore, it will be beyond the rights of the German Authorities to levy duties upon British and Indian trade in the German Protec torate of Zanzibar, including the 600 miles of coast territory, of which Great Britain has engaged to facilitate the absolute cession to Germany; and, if not, in virtue of what special arrangement between Her Majesty's Government and Germany will the German Authorities be entitled to levy duties?

* SIR J. FERGUSSON

The Act of Berlin, which must be meant by the "Declaration of the West African Conference," stipulates that in a certain defined zone no Import or Transit Duties shall be levied. There is no restriction as to the levying of Export Duties except a provision against differential treatment. The prohibition as to Import Duties is modified by the Declaration appended to the Act of Brussels, which permits their being levied up to a maximum of 10 per cent, ad valorem except in the case of spirits. The territory of the Sultan of Zanzibar, though -within the zone, was not to be subjected to the trade system of the Act, except with His Highness's approval, which has not been given. Duties on British and Indian trade at Zanzibar, both on the mainland and on the coast administered by the British and German Companies, are levied in accordance with the Commercial Treaty of 1886, which allows a maximum of 5 per cent, on imports, excepting spirits, on which the duty is 25 per cent., and certain specified duties on exports. If a portion of the Zanzibar coast is ceded to Germany, duties on British and Indian goods will continue to be levied under the Treaty, or if the free zone system is applied under that system, as amended by the Brussels Act. Under either the trade is protected from any differential treatment or excessive burdens.

MR. SUMMERS

The right hon. Gentleman has not answered the second part of my question.

* SIR J. FERGUSSON

No, Sir; the Powers have never exercised their influence in the sense indicated.

MR. BUCHANAN

What are the portions of the German sphere of influence within the limits of the Free Trade zone, to which the provisions of Article VIII. of the Anglo-German Agreement are to apply?

* SIR J. FERGUSSON

I must ask for notice of that question.