HC Deb 13 March 1906 vol 153 c1096
MR. KEIR HARDIE (Merthyr Tydvil)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British Plenipotentiary at the Algeciras Conference voted against the proposal of the Moorish delegates to put a duty of 100 per cent. ad valorem on all spirituous, liquors imported into Morocco; and whether any explanation of the vote can be given.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir EDWARD GREY,) Northumberland, Berwick

It does not appear that any vote was taken on a separate proposal about spirituous, liquor. There were general proposals to raise the duties on all imported trade by duties varying from 20 to 100 per cent. The unanimous opinion of all the delegates was that this would render all trade impossible, and they objected to the proposals as a whole. I hope that special measures for dealing with liquor traffic may be taken before the Conference separates, and, if so, they will be supported by the British delegate.