§ Mr. GIBSON BOWLESasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, did His Majesty's Government propose to give the notice contemplated by Article 1 of the Sugar Convention, 1907, enabling them to withdraw from the Convention from 1st September, 1911; if so, did they propose to give one year's notice at the last meeting of the Commission held before 1st September, 1910; in case no such notice was given, would the Convention remain in force at least until 31st August, 1913; and did His Majesty's Government propose to call for a meeting of the Commission to take place before 1st September, 1910, or do they in any case propose to leave Great Britain pledged to the Convention till 31st August, 1913, without making any attempt to relieve the country from its obligations?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThere has been no reason hitherto to make His Majesty's Government think that it would be practicable to withdraw from the Convention on the 1st September, 1911, and they have not contemplated doing so.
§ Mr. GIBSON BOWLESWill the Under-Secretary answer the last part of the question, whether the Government propose to leave Great Britain pledged to the Convention till 31st August, 1913, without making any attempt to relieve the country from its obligations?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThe answer is that the Government have no reason to think that any effort would succeed, and they have not therefore contemplated any effort.