§ MR. MITCHELL-THOMSONI beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the new Servian Treaty binds the Colonies to grant to the products of Servia the same tariff rates which they may grant to any other foreign country; and if so, whether the views of the self-governing Colonies have been obtained on this question.
§ SIR EDWARD GREYThe Treaty in no way binds British Colonies or Possessions in the sense indicated by the hon. Member. They are free to adhere to the Treaty or not. There has consequently been no occasion to consult the self-governing Colonies in the matter.
§ MR. MITCHELL-THOMSONI beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Article 13 of the new Servian Treaty means that Servia has agreed to grant the same terms to the products of any British Colony as are granted to the United Kingdom, irrespective of any inter-Imperial arrangement of tariffs which are now or may be hereafter in force.
§ SIR EDWARD GREYUnder Article 13 of the Treaty, Servia will grant most-favoured-nation treatment to the products of any British Colony or possession so long as that Colony or possession treats Servian goods as favourably as those of any foreign country. The Treaty therefore in no way interferes with an inter-Imperial arrangement of tariffs.
§ MR. MITCHELL-THOMSONDoes this Servian Treaty rest on the assumption that the preferential treatment of British goods by British Colonies is in accordance with the obligations of the most-favoured-nation clause?
§ SIR EDWARD GREYThe Treaty does not interfere with any inter-Imperial or inter-Colonial arrangements. It leaves all parts of the British Empire free to make what arrangements they please between themselves.
§ MR. MITCHELL-THOMSONI beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the provision of Article 13 of the new Servian Treaty, requiring Servia to extend most-favoured-nation treatment to the products of all parts of the British Empire, whether such part adheres to the Treaty or not, has been included in any other treaty with the United Kingdom.
§ SIR EDWARD GREYA similar provision is included in the Commercial Convention between the United Kingdom and Roumania. signed 31st October, 1905, and in the Commercial Convention between the United Kingdom and Bulgaria, signed 9th December 1905. The latter Convention has not yet been ratified, but it is expected that the ratifications will be exchanged in the course of a few days.