§ COLONEL HOWARD VINCENTI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the self-governed Colonies are free to form a Commercial League among themselves, and to admit foreign nations thereto, but that Great Britain is precluded from entering into similar mutually advantageous trading arrangements within the Empire she has founded, by provisions in Treaties made with two alien States; and, in 157 such case, if Her Majesty's Government are taking any steps to remedy this condition of affairs?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR, Manchester, E.)In reply to my hon. and gallant Friend, I have to say self-governing Colonies are free to form Commercial Leagues among themselves, subject, in the case of the Australian Colonies, to the restrictions of Section 3 of the Australian Colonies Customs Duties Act of 1873. The products of foreign nations could under the scheme be admitted by the League on the same terms as the produce of the colonies comprising the League; but Great Britain could only be a party to such League on condition that Belgium and the Zollverein received similar treatment to Great Britain. We have no information leading to the belief that at present the Colonies desire to adopt a policy of such a Customs Union; but should such a desire arise, and the Treaty between Great Britain and Belgium and the Zollverein interpose obstacles in the way of the realisation of such a desire, it would be the duty of Her Majesty's Government to consider how to remove those Treaty restrictions and to shape their course accordingly.
§ COLONEL HOWARD VINCENTIn this connection, may I ask if any answer has been sent to the unanimous address of the Canadian Assembly in December last?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI have no information, but, of course, if my hon. Friend puts a question on the Paper I will make the necessary inquiry.