MR. GIBSON BOWLESI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, are such of the British self-governing colonies as grant bounties on the production or export of sugar or sugar products entitled, under the Brussels Sugar Convention, to have their sugar and sugar products admitted at the lowest rate of import duty into Germany and the other countries parties to the Convention, or are they liable to have a countervailing duty imposed by such countries on their sugar and sugar products.
*Lord CRANBORNEIn the opinion of His Majesty's Government there is nothing in the Convention entitling such of the British self-governing colonies as grant bounties on the production or export of sugar or sugar products to have their sugar and sugar products admitted at the lowest rate of import duty into Germany and the other countries parties to the Convention, or to exempt them from liability to have a countervailing duty imposed by such countries on their sugar and sugar products
Mr. GIBSON BOWLESDo the Government hold that they are not bound to impose countervailing duties in these cases?
*L0RD CRANBORXEI have already told the House the Government considers that there is no obligation on them in any circumstances to impose countervailing duties against their own colonies.
§ Lord CRANBORNEI can only refer my hon. friend to other Questions which have been answered on the subject. If further information is wanted I must ask for notice of the Question.
§ Mr. LOUGH () Islington, W.I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government have had an official notification that any other Power except Belgium has ratified the Brussels Sugar Convention; and whether any communications have been received from non-signatory Powers, apart from Russia, with regard to the right of this country to impose countervailing duties against them in the face of existing treaties, or on any other matters connected with the Convention.
§ Evacuation of Shanghai by International Troops.
*Lord CHARLES BERESFORDI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British garrison is ordered to leave Shanghai on 20th December; and whether, in order that no step should be taken to the prejudice of British interests in the Far East, he can make arrangements to secure that the German garrison shall leave at the same time; and, if not, will he state at what date the German garrison are to take their departure.
§ SIR EDWARD SASSOON () HytheMay I at the same time ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, having regard to the fact that Germany has fixed no date for the removal of her garrison from Shanghai, His Majesty's Government will consider the expediency of countermanding the withdrawal of British troops until the determination of the German Government has been announced.
*LORD CRANBOKNEI will answer these Questions together. The British garrison is under orders to leave Shanghai on the 20th instant. His Majesty's Government have been informed by the German Government that the German force will be withdrawn from Shanghai on December 20th, or failing that, early in January. Under these circumstances we see no reason for countermanding the orders already given to our troops.