§ COLONEL SIR HOWARD VINCENTI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if treaties of commerce are under negotiation with Germany and Belgium to replace those denounced by Her Majesty's Government on 30th July, 1897, as prohibiting the preferential treatment of British goods by British Colonies; and if the terms of the proposed new treaties will be submitted to this House and to Colonial Governments before being 1087 finally decided upon, in order that no accident of language may as before bar the conclusion, as soon as the self-governing Colonies are so disposed, of a complete Customs union within the British Empire?
MR. CURZONYes, Sir. Negotiations with Germany and Belgium are now proceeding. It would be contrary to all practice to submit the terms of the new treaties in advance to Parliament. But the Governments of the self-governing Colonies will, of course, be consulted, through the Colonial Office, as to their wishes with regard to accession to the treaties.