§ MR. RAWSON SHAW (Halifax)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is a fact that the negotiations between England and Spain, concerning the Spanish Tariff, are now broken off, and that all goods on order at present in England must be delivered in Spain prior to the 1st of July, or be subject to higher rates; if so, whether the Government will take any steps which are in their power to obtain an extension of time for the numerous English manufacturers who will, under present circumstances, suffer severely, owing to the shortness of notice, and so enable them to execute their orders before any change is made?
§ SIR E. GREYWe are not aware of any foundation for this rumour. The negotiations are not broken off, and Her Majesty's Government have no reason to suppose that any change in the tariff rates to which British goods are now subject is impending.