HC Deb 23 February 1903 vol 118 cc494-5
MR. GIBSON BOWLES

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, have His Majesty's Government, since the signature on 5th March, 1902, of the Brussels Sugar Convention, had any correspondence with, or received any communication from, any of the signatory Powers relative to Great Britain's obligation under Article IV. to impose countervailing duties on sugar-sweetened products imported from her self-governing Colonies, when such Colonies grant direct or indirect bounties on the production or exportation of those products; if so, from what Powers have communications been received; and when does he propose to lay them upon the Table of the House, or to state the effect of such verbal communications.

THE UNDER SECRETARY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Lord CRANBORNE,) Rochester

I would, in the first place, refer my hon. friend to my answer on the 17th December last. On January 13th His Majesty's Government despatched a circular informing the Powers signatory to the Convention that they would not consent under any circumstances to be bound to penalise bounty fed sugar imported into the United Kingdom from any of the self-governing British Colonies, and that they were not prepared to accept any reference of this Question to the Permanent Commission. We have received official replies from the German and Austrian Governments only. The German Government differ from us and reserve their liberty of action, but consider that the difference of opinion has no practical significance. The Austrian Government have said that they pre- sume that in practice the case contemplated will not arise, but that they reserve their full liberty of action. The Dutch Government have sent no reply. The Italian Government, we understand, do not dispute our view. The Belgian Government consider the point of no practical interest. The French Government have expressed no opinion on the subject. Our ratification has been deposited on the express condition that we shall not be bound to penalise bountyfed sugar from our self-governing Colonies. We have therefore incurred no treaty obligation to do so. Papers are being prepared and will shortly be laid upon the Table.