§ MR. JOSEPH A. PEASE (Northumberland, Tyneside)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the French Government are placing; import duties on certain British goods entering Madagascar, whilst French goods of a similar character are imported free; if so, whether the practice is a violation of an arrangement made with the French Government in 1890; and for how long such a violation of the French obligations has been allowed to continue; and what steps Her Majesty's Government have taken to enable, British trade commodities to be imported into Madagascar on terms which would be in accordance with the signed declaration of the French Government in 1890?
MR. CURZONUnder a Decree published in the Journal Officiel of August 8th last, French imports are admitted into Madagascar free of duty, while foreign imports continue to be subject to the ad valorem duty of 10 per cent. sanctioned by previously existing Treaties. Her Majesty's Government have addressed representations to the French Government on the subject.