MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the fact that the Permanent Commission at Brussels have found that the so-called contingent law of Austria and the law proposed to the Hungarian Parliament are inconsistent with the Brussels Sugar Convention, and that the French system is not in harmony with that Convention, do His Majesty's Government intend to prohibit, as from 1st September next, the importation of sugars and sugared products from Austria, from Hungary, and from France; and, if not, how otherwise do they propose to fulfil their obligations under the Convention.
THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Lord CRAN BORNE,) Rochester.The Question is based on the assumption that the two contracting States named will fail to carry out their obligations under the Convention. I have no reason to suppose that this will be the case.
MR. GIBSON BOWLESThe noble Lord has entirely misrepresented my Question. It is based on nothing of the kind. I asked a Question which is based upon statements laid before Parliament, and, in addition to that, I may say that, in regard to France, it is stated that she cannot alter her law. Under these circumstances, I respectfully ask what His Majesty's Government propose to do.
§ LORD CRANBORNEI do not think that the hon. Gentleman has wrongly quoted what passed at the Conference, but it remains for those States to bring their legislation into harmony with the findings of the Conference.
MR. GIBSON BOWLESIs the noble Lord not aware that in his own despatch it is stated that France cannot do so?
§ *MR. SPEAKEROrder, Order! The Question cannot be argued.