§ SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucestershire, Forest of Dean)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what reply has been made by the French Government to the definite proposals as to British trade in the free trade portion of the French Congo within the Congo basin or maritime zone, which were laid before the French Government by His Majesty's Government.
§ THE UNDER SECRETARYOF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Lord CRANBORNE,) RochesterNegotiations are in progress with the French Government. It would be inconvenient to make known any single element of these negotiations until we are further advanced towards a conclusion.