SIR HOWARD VINCENTTo ask the secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that in proceeding to the signature of the Sugar Convention at 1348 Brussels on the 5th March a protocol was added declaring that no bounty, direct or indirect, will be granted to sugars of His Majesty's Crown Colonies, and that no preference will be granted in the United Kingdom to colonial sugars as against foreign sugars. If he can explain why such a limitation in the freedom of trading between different portions of the British Empire was agreed to by His Majesty's delegates, having regard to the declarations of the Prime Minister respecting a similar course in the Treaties of 1862 and 1865, and also to the representations addressed to the Colonial Office in favour of preferential free admission of West Indian cane sugar into the United Kingdom; and, having regard to the proceedings which have taken place with respect to the Convention in the Legislatures of Germany and Belgium, if he can state when the Enabling Bill will be introduced, or what opportunity will be afforded, to the House of Commons to discuss the Convention, and particularly this protocol, prior to its ratification in its present form.
(Answer.) In order to secure the total abolition of bounties and the restoration of the sugar trade to its normal channels it was necessary to undertake that foreign and British colonial sugar should be able to compete for the English market on equal conditions. There will be full opportnuity for the discussion of the Convention and final protocol before it is ratified, but no precise date can be given at present.—(Colonial Office.)