§ MR. DAVITTI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what European Powers besides Great Britain have made representations to the Government of the United States with reference to the tonnage dues which were proposed in the American Congress as a means of raising revenue for war purposes; what instructions were given by Her Majesty's Government to the British Ambassador in connection with these representations; and whether the representations in question were made by European Powers individually or collectively; and, if collectively, whether he can state which Power took the initiative in the matter?
MR. CURZONAn unofficial request was addressed on the 28th ultimo to the State Department by Her Majesty's Ambassador as Doyen of the Diplomatic Corps, on behalf of the Representatives of France, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Sweden, Denmark, Russia, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Italy, that a hearing might be given before a Committee of the House to the agents of the steamship companies and shipowners, in order to enable them to state their case against the proposed increase in the tonnage dues. No instructions had at that time been sent to Sir Julian Pauncefote, but his Excellency was instructed on the 29th ultimo to represent to the Secretary of State the great hardship to British shipping and commercial interests which would be involved by the passing of the measure. No official representation was made jointly to the United States Government on the subject, but separate representations were made by the representatives of Germany, France, Denmark, and the Netherlands.