§ MR. SEYMOUR ORMSBY-GORE (Lincolnshire, Gainsborough)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in view of his declaration as to the impossibility of placing a permanent protective and preferential duty upon foodstuffs, he will communicate this determination to the various Colonial Premiers prior to convening the proposed Colonial Conference.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURMy desire is that the Conference should be a free conference and there should be no declaration on this subject on either side before the Conference is convened.
§ MR. RUNCIMAN (Dewsbury)May I ask the First Lord of the Treasury on what date it is intended to issue the invitations to the Colonial Conference in 1906, and, as a supplementary Question, whether the taxation of imported raw material will be excluded from the reference.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURNo date has been fixed for the issue of the invitations.
§ MR. RUNCIMANCan the hon. Gentleman not answer the supplementary Question.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOUREvidently, until the date has been fixed, it would be quite premature to mention the terms of reference.