§ MR. CHARLES M'ARTHUR (Liverpool, Exchange)To ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether a scheme for the grant by the Greek Government to a Greek and British syndicate of a monopoly for the sale of all currants grown in Greece has been brought under the notice of the British Minister at Athens; and, if so, will he state whether he has taken any, and if so, what action in the matter.
17 (Answered by Lord Cranborne.) The answer to the first Question is in the affirmative. On the 3rd ultimo His Majesty's Minister at Athens was instructed by telegraph to ask the Hellenic Government for information as to the exact nature of the proposals, as a monopoly would seem to be contrary to the spirit of the commercial agreement between the two countries of 28th March, 1890. No scheme has yet been approved by the Greek Government, and Sir E. Egerton has recently reported that so far the proposals are neither definite nor complete.