§ MR. CROMBIE (Kineardineshire)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been directed to the proposal which the German Government are about to submit to the Reichstag raising the duties on English imports, and whether any steps are being taken by the English Government in the matter.
§ VISCOUNT CRANBORNECopies of the proposed new German Customs Tariff have been received at the Foreign Office, and a statement has been prepared at the Board of Trade comparing the present and proposed rates, but I understand that the proposed tariff is still in the hands of the Tariff Committee 909 of the Bundesrath, who will probably not report to that body till the end of the year. The matter is actively engaging the attention of the Commercial Intelligence Committee of the Board of Trade, who are I believe taking steps to consult the principal chambers of commerce.