MR. GODDARD CLARKE (Camberwell, Peckham)To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that, in consequence of the publication of a new edition of the Japanese Pharmacopœia and the proposed enforcement of the standards of that work upon imports of chemicals and drugs into the Japanese Empire on and after 1st July, 1907, manufacturers and merchants of Great Britain are being put to trade inconvenience and loss, as the Pharmacopœia is only obtainable in the Japanese language, and no official translation of it in a European or classic language is available; and will he take steps to secure the postponement of the importation order until such period as the English translation of the Pharmacopœia has been published and the new standards are in consequence known to manufacturers and merchants in this country.
(Answered by Sir Edward Grey.) My attention has already been drawn to this matter and inquiries will be made at Tokio. Should the facts be as stated His Majesty's Chargéd' Affaires will be 335 instructed to ask the Japanese Government to allow an extension of time.