EARL of RONALDSHAYasked on what articles the United States of America secured reductions of the duties originally proposed to be imposed by the French Customs tariff recently; the rates originally proposed and those actually applicable to each article; and the value of such articles exported by the United States to France in the last year for which figures are available?
Mr. BUXTONI am afraid I cannot undertake to say how far any of the reductions made in the duties originally proposed to be imposed by the French Tariff Bill were the result of representations by the United States.
§ Mr. JAMES HOPEHas any reduction been obtained by the action of our officials at all comparable with those obtained for the United States?
Mr. BUXTONI do know that as the result of the representations made on our behalf the French tariff is lower than was originally proposed. I am unable to say what representations were made on behalf of the United States.
§ Mr. JAMES HOPEWere not the reductions made very much more favourable to the United States than to this country?
Mr. BUXTONI very much doubt it, but how am I to say what representations were made on behalf of another Government?