§ SIR A. ROLLIT (Islington, S.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government has communicated with the Government of the United States, with a view to securing for English authors and composers the benefit of the new American Copyright Act, as from the 1st July, 1891; and whether Her Majesty's Government propose to introduce a Bill, giving similar rights in the United Kingdom to American authors and composers, if the latter are not already sufficiently protected?
SIR J. GORST (for Sir J. FERGUSSON)Her Majesty's Inspector at Washington has been directed to make inquiries on the subject, and it is understood that a Circular will shortly be addressed by the United States Government to foreign Powers respecting the application to them of the new Copyright Act. Her Majesty's Government propose to await 1190 the receipt of this Circular before considering what steps should be taken in the matter.