§ COLONEL HOWARD VINCENTI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies if, now that the Secretary of State has learnt from the Earl of Jersey, Her Majesty's Commissioner at the Empire Conference at Ottawa, the earnestness of the desire of the great self-governing Colonies for the removal of all Treaty obstacles to the development of trade within the British Empire, and the cultivation and extension of the mutual and profitable interchange of British products upon a more favourable footing than that on which trade is carried on with other countries, even at the sacrifice of Colonial revenue, prompt steps will be taken towards this end, and, as a commencement, the despatch to the British South Africa Company of 11th June, 1894, peremptorily refusing the spontaneous offer of better terms for ever for British over foreign goods in Matabeleland and Mashonaland will be withdrawn?
§ MR. S. BUXTONWhen Lord Jersey reports on what passed at the Conference his Report will be considered. Naturally, until then, no action will be taken. It is not proposed to withdraw the Despatch referred to, the purport of which the hon. Member has mis-described in his question.
§ COLONEL HOWARD VINCENTI beg to give notice that on the Colonial Estimates I shall call attention to the action of the Secretary of State on this matter.