§ SIR HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, having regard to the fact that the Turkish Empire took an annual average of £8,000,000 worth of British goods in the quinquennial period 1890–94, according to Papers presented to Parliament, and more than Russia, Belgium, Italy, China, or Japan, and to the admission of British goods on better terms and lighter duties than in any other foreign country, Her Majesty's Government will press forward the conclusion of a new Treaty of Commerce to replace the lapsed Treaty of 1861?
§ *THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. G. CURZON,) Lancashire, SouthportHer Majesty's Government are not of opinion that any reason exists to press forward on their part negotiations for a new Treaty of Commerce with Turkey. Previous negotiations on the subject have shown clearly that such a Treaty could only be concluded on the basis of some increase in the customs duties at present levied on British goods in the Ottoman Dominions. Unless Her Majesty's Government can obtain full satisfaction on other points of commercial importance which would be included in the Treaty, it does not appear that any benefit would result to British Commerce from its conclusion.