§ MR. BRYCE (Aberdeen, S.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government can now make a statement regarding the conclusions arrived at by the Brussels Conference on sugar bounties; and when Papers relating to the subject will be presented to Parliament.
§ * THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir M. HICKS BEACH,) (for Lord CRANBORNE) Bristol, W.His Majesty's Government cannot make a statement on the subject while the Conference is still sitting.
MR. JAMES LOWTHER (Kent, Thanet)I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer a Question of which I have given private notice, and which arises out of statements which have appeared in the Press regarding the proceedings at the Sugar Conference, namely, I whether His Majesty's Government will; undertake to afford the House an opportunity of discussing the question before this country is committed to any international obligations which would involve any limitation of that absolute freedom in the matter of preferential trading relations within the British Empire, which freedom was secured at the instance of all our leading colonies by the denunciation of the German and Belgian Treaties in 1897.
§ * SIR M. HICKS BEACHAny obligation entered into at the Sugar Conference on behalf of this country will, of course, be subject to ratification at a considerable period after the Convention has been concluded, and there will be ample opportunity for their consideration by this House.