§ MR. NORMANI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can state what point has been reached by the Tariff Commission sitting in Shanghai; whether the sitting of the Commission has been temporarily suspended; and, if so, for what cause; and whether His Majesty's Government has given any indication of its willingness to consent, on conditions, to any alteration of the Chinese import tariff.
LORD CRANEORNEHis Majesty's Special Commissioner reported on the 26th ultimo that the negotiations for the conversion of the 5 per cent ad valorem import tariff to a specific basis, which were proceeding satisfactorily, had been suspended until the Chinese Commissioners received detailed instructions from Peking. The negotiation of amendments to the Commercial Treaties is proceeding slowly, but several clauses have already been agreed to by the Chinese Commissioners. The question of a further increase of the import tariff or of the transit pass duties, in return for additional facilities for trade, is still under consideration.