§ MR. CHARLES M'ARTHUR (Liverpool, Exchange)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been directed to the effect on British trade in the French Congo of the grant of exclusive rights of proprietorship and trade by the French Government to the concessionaires, who now demand the expulsion of British firms from the country; and whether he can state what progress has been made with the negotiations with the French Government relative to the claims of British subjects for restitution and compensation.
THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Lord CRAN-BORNE, Rochester)His Majesty's Government recognise that this is a matter of great importance to British trade. It has for some time past been the subject of negotiation with France, and definite proposals are now under the consideration of the French Government.