§ SIR T. SUTHERLAND (Greenock)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the new Treaty, which has been negotiated with Japan, abandons on the part of Great Britain the system of extraterritorial jurisdiction which has been considered hitherto necessary to protect the interests of British subjects in their relations with Oriental countries; and whether the tariff attached to the new Treaty authorities an increase in the amount of duties; and, if so, if adequate notice will be given of the same to enable merchants to govern their operations accordingly?
§ * THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir E. GREY,) Northumberland, BerwickUnder the new Treaty the extra-territorial jurisdiction will eventually cease, but not for at least five years, and then only in return for certain advantages to be obtained for British interests. The tariff attached to the new Treaty authorises an increase in duties. Under the Treaty the tariff may come into force within one month after the exchange of the ratifications of the Treaty, but it practically cannot be applied to British subjects unless the nationals of other countries are subjected to it, and this they will not be until Japan has concluded similar Treaties with those countries. The Treaty will be published as soon as the ratifications have been exchanged.