§ MR. ARTHUR LEE (Hampshire, Fareham)To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether the Agreement concluded between the British and United States Governments, for a reciprocal reduction of the import duties on commercial samples and works of art, has yet come into force; and, if so, upon what date the reduced scale of duties came into operation.
(Answered by Sir Edward Grey.) The Agreement does not provide for the reduction of duties on commercial samples or for their free admission, but only facilitates their clearance on importation from the United States into the United Kingdom. The Agreement is published in the Treaty Series (No. 44). It is now in force. The proclamation of the President of the United States is dated 5th December last.