MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs have His Majesty's Government adhered to the Brussels Sugar Convention on behalf of the British Crown Colonies, or have they refused so to adhere to it; when, how, and in what form was the adherence, or the refusal of the adherence in question, signified to the other Signatory Powers; and are the Crown Colonies now bound to observe any, and if so which, of the stipulations and obligations of this Convention.
§ THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Earl PERCY,) Kensington, S.His Majesty's Government have not adhered to the Brussels Sugar Convention on behalf of the Crown Colonies, and have consequently made no communication on the subject to the signatory Powers. The Crown Colonies are bound by the stipulations of Articles V. and VIII. of the Convention. They are also bound not to give bounties.
MR. GIBSON BOWLESHow can the Crown Colonies be bound by a convention to which His Majesty's Government have not adhered on their behalf?
§ EARL PERCYWe stated at the time that we undertook this responsibility in regard to the Crown Colonies.
MR. GIBSON BOWLESI asked whether His Majesty's Government had adhered to the Convention on behalf of the Crown Colonies.
§ EARL PERCYI can add nothing to my answer. We have not adhered to it on behalf of the Crown Colonies, and we have pledged the Crown Colonies to carry out these two Articles.