MR. GIBSON BOWLESI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any agreement or arrangements have been concluded between the Government of Cuba and of the United States regulating the conditions of commerce between the two States and the Customs duties thereon; if so, whether His Majesty's Government can state the effect of such agreement upon British commerce, and can lay upon the Table the text thereof; and have His Majesty's Government received any, and, if so, what representations on the subject form British trading interests.
§ LORD CRANBORNEA Convention between Cuba and the United States has been signed, but has not yet been ratified. It would therefore be premature to consider the question of laying it before Parliament. The Convention is a reciprocity Convention giving exclusive advantages to the trade between the two countries, and must necessarily be to some extent disadvantageous to the trade of other countries. His Majesty's Government have received representations as to the adverse effect which the Convention would produce upon British Commerce with the Island of Cuba.
MR. GIBSON BOWLESIs it not the fact that this Convention places British commerce at a disadvantage of from 25 per cent. to 30 per cent. in Cuba?
§ LORD CRANBORNEI do not think so, but if the hon. Member will put down a Question I will try and get the information.