HC Deb 17 June 1892 vol 5 cc1453-4
MR. GERALD BALFOUR (Leeds Central)

I beg to ask the Under I Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that on three occasions in the last half of last year—namely, in the case of goods forwarded 28th July, 2nd September, and 16th October respectively, the French Customs Authorities refused to admit leather tanned and curried by Mr. William Pan1, at the Oak Tannery, Leeds, at the rate of duty applicable to English leather under the most favoured nation clause, the French officials contending that the leather in question was of American origin, and that the extra, tax and fines imposed upon Mr. Paul in consequence of the action of the French Customs Authorities amounted to a sum of over £230, apart from indirect losses inflicted upon him; whether he is aware that in spite of a sworn declaration by Mr. Paul, countersigned by the French Consul in Leeds, that the leather in question was tanned and curried at the Oak Tannery in Leeds, and an offer on his part to pay the expenses of an official of the French Customs to Leeds for the purpose of seeing similar goods actually undergoing the process of tanning and currying, he has, nevertheless, failed to obtain any redress for the injustice done him; and whether the Government will undertake to make representations to the French Authorities in order to secure that the clause in their Tariff' Bill admitting English goods into France at the minimum rate of duty shall be given due effect to?

*THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. J. W. LOWTHER,) Cumberland, Penrith

The facts mentioned in the first and second paragraphs of the question are substantially correct. Representations were made to the French Government, but the reply received showed that the goods in question had three times been examined by experts; on the first occasion the experts decided unanimously that the goods were of extra-European origin; on the second occasion there was a difference of opinion, but on the third occasion upon four fresh experts being summoned and the matter reconsidered, they decided unanimously that the goods were of extra-European origin. The French Government have declined to make any change in the existing law in this respect.