§ MR. MOLLOYOn behalf of the hon. Member for Londonderry (Mr. VESEY KNOX), I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, under the Treaty with Tunis, Canada and the other Colonies enjoyed until 1898 the advantage of most-favoured-nation treatment, their products being admitted at a duty of 8 per cent.; whether, under the new Treaty with France, that advantage is withdrawn, and the product of the Colonies subjected to the maximum tariff of France, although by special Treaty with France Canada is entitled to most-favoured-nation treatment in French 1514 ports; whether the Colonies were consulted before this change was made; and whether, having regard to the fact that Great Britain enforces upon the Colonies a construction of most-favoured-nation Treaties which has never been admitted by the United States, the Foreign Office will consult the Governments of the Colonies before consenting to fiscal changes adverse to their interests?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. G. N. CURZON,) Lancashire, SouthportThe answer to the first Question is in the affirmative. With regard to the second Question, under the new Agreement, which virtually abrogates the former Treaty, the most-favoured-nation treatment in Tunis is not extended to the Colonies, and their products are subject to this general tariff. The rate of 5 per cent. for cotton goods applies, however, to cottons from the British Colonies as well as to those from the United Kingdom. The special Treaty between Canada and France has no bearing on Tunis. With reference to the third Question, the Premiers of the Constitutional Colonies were consulted, and it was by their wish that the Colonies were not included. In reply to the fourth Question, I may say that the Foreign Office always consults the Colonial Department, as representing the Colonial Governments, as to the inclusion of Colonies in Commercial Treaties.