§ MR. SCHWANNI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that, although by the convention recently concluded betwixt this country and France it was stipulated that British cotton goods should be admitted into Tunis subject only to a duty of five per 492 cent. ad valorem, from 1st January, 1898, for fifteen years, the French Custom House officials in Tunis only admit certain kinds of cotton goods at this rate, whilst they inflict a duty of eight per cent on many other classes of cotton goods, which is the duty previously charged; and if Her Majesty's Government have already made representations on this subject to the French Government what is the result, and will the extra three per cent. duty paid on certain classes of cotton goods since 1st January last, owing to this surcharge, be refunded?
MR. CURZONHer Majesty's Ambassador at Paris has been instructed to make representations on the subject to the French Government.