§ SIR A. ROLLITI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs by what means, if any, and under what conditions, as to notice and otherwise, can the Commercial Treaties with Belgium and the German Empire, which are said to prevent differential fiscal treatment of the Colonies, be denounced; and is such the effect of the Treaties?
§ SIR E. GREYBoth those Treaties can be terminated by either party on giving 12 months' notice. It is not possible to give a general answer to the question how far they prevent differential fiscal treatment of the Colonies; but the actual terms of the articles in those treaties referred to—namely, Article 15 of the Treaty with Belgium of July 23, 1862, and Article 7 of the Treaty with the Zollverein of May 30, 1865—will be found in a Paper recently laid before Parliament, Commercial No. 17, 1893. (C. 7229), pages 3 and 20.
§ SIR M. HICKS-BEACHMay I ask the hon. Baronet whether these Treaties do prevent a re-arrangement of Commercial Treaties with the Colonies?
§ SIR E. GREYI would rather, in the first instance, that the terms of the Treaties should speak for themselves. If it is desired that an interpretation should be given of what may be considered as obscure in the terms of the Treaties I must have notice.
§ SIR A. ROLLITI should like to ask whether the Treaties are consistent with inter-colonial differential duties?
§ SIR E. GREYI must repeat that I must have proper notice before I can pretend to give an interpretation of the Treaties. I am not at present aware that the terms are obscure.