§ MR. KEARLEY (Devonport)To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government of the Australian 1299 Commonwealth have made a strong protest to the Home Government with regard to the unequal treatment by Germany of certain British shipping trading with the Marshall Islands now controlled by Germany; and, seeing that recently the ss. "Ysabal," trading between Sydney and the Islands, was charged a licence fee equal to £2,700 per annum, further increased on a subsequent voyage to £5,475 per annum, as against £100 per annum made to Germans or any nationality in the adjoining British groups, he will state whether such charges are an infringement of the most-favoured-nation clause; and whether any retaliatory action is contemplated.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton.) The subject referred to in the hon. Member's Question is now being discussed with the German Government.