§ SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucestershire, Forest of Dean)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is the present policy of His Majesty's Government to prepare for the eventual termination of British participation in the International Sugar Convention; and, if so, whether it is intended to address any preliminary communication to the Powers interested in order to allow full time for their arrangements to be made.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir EDWARD GREY,) Northumberland, BerwickWe cannot withdraw before September 1908; to do this notice must be given in September 1907. As a large question of policy is involved on which several departments must be consulted and as no decision taken before September 1907 can be effective, the matter has not yet been considered owing to other questions, which are more pressing.
§ SIR CHARLES DILKEI gather from the terms of the reply that the principle is accepted. If there should be that intention in the minds of the Government, it would lie wise to make a preliminary announcement without waiting for the actual date.
§ SIR EDWARD GREYOf course, I can say nothing about the intention of the Government until I have consulted the other departments; but if the decision is come to to withdraw, it will be made known as soon as possible in the interests of the trade.