§ SIR HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has any information to communicate to the House with regard to the German tariff and its effect upon the export to Germany of British goods, or concerning the steel trust in the United States, or the Shipping Subsidy Bill before Congress; and can he say what steps His Majesty's Government proposes to take in the interests of British trade.
§ * THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir M. HICKS BEACH,) (for Lord CRANBORNE) Bristol, W.The proposed new German Customs Tariff is now
†See (4) Debates, xcvii, 428.172 before a Select Committee of the Reichstag, and its probable effect upon British trade has been and is under consideration in consultation with the Advisory Committee of the Board of Trade, who have been in communication with the principal, Chambers of Commerce. There is no information in our possession which could usefully be published at the present time, with regard to the Steel Trusts in the United States. Papers with regard to Senator Frye's New Steamship Subsidy Bill will be communicated to the Select Committee on Steamship Subsidies if it is reappointed by the House. The last question is not one which can be dealt with in an answer to a Question.