§ MR. TORRANCE (Glasgow, Central)To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the United States Government have passed a Tariff Bill prejudicing the interest of British shippers of cotton textiles; and whether, in view of the Treaty of Paris, signed with Spain in 1899, he is taking steps to cable our representative in Washington to protest against the Bill being put into operation.
(Answered by Secretary Sir Edward Grey.) The measure to which the hon. Member no doubt refers proposes to increase the duty upon a certain class of cotton goods imported into the Philippines. The change of tariff classification would apparently apply to imports from all countries, and would not infringe any treaty rights.