§ COLONEL LOCKWOOD (Essex, Epping)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if in the new commercial Treaty with Belgium, Her Majesty's Government have been able to safeguard the interests of British shipowners, especially with regard to the heavy subsidies paid by the Belgian 422 Government to their steamers plying between Ostend and the Thames?
MR. CURZONAs negotiations are still proceeding I am unable to make any statement as to their scope and character. But the points raised by my honourable and gallant Friend have not been lost sight of by Her Majesty's Government, who are anxious to protect the interests of British shipowners by every means in their power.