§ MR. CHARLES M'ARTHUR (Liverpool, Exchange)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government, in communicating with the other signatories to the Act of Berlin, will endeavour to arrive at an agreement as to the effect of the clause stipulating for complete freedom of trade (Article 1), as well as of the clause prohibiting monopoly or favour in matters of trade (Article 5) in relation to the system of trade now prevailing in the Congo Free State, including the positions occupied by the Concessionaire Companies and by the State in respect of the domaine privée.
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Lord CRANBORNE,) RochesterThe communications with the signatories to the Act of Berlin will certainly cover the stipulation contained in Article 1, to which my hon. friend refers, as well as those in Article 5 and will apply to the domaine privée as well as to the area occupied by the Concessionaries.