§ 1. Mr. COWANasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has now received the reply of the Russian Government to the suggestion placed before it by His Majesty's Government that, in order to facilitate the importation of cured herrings from the United Kingdom into the Russian Empire through Archangel, the Import Duty on such fish should be temporarily removed; and, if a reply has been received, whether he can indicate its nature?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir E. Grey)No definite reply has yet been received from the Russian Government. I do not know whether they will see their way to removing the present Import Duty on herrings, as I understand from His Majesty's Ambassador at Petrograd that there are already large stocks in Russia which have paid full duty, and which would be placed in unfair competition with supplies entering free of duty. Herrings are not, I gather, an article of food required by the Russian troops.
§ Mr. COWANCould not the right hon. Gentleman suggest to the Russian Government that by granting a rebate to Russian merchants who already hold stocks of cured herrings, this difficulty might be met?
§ Sir E. GREYI will consider that point. I am quite aware of the importance of the question, and of course we are anxious to get everything done we possibly can.
§ Mr. KINGHas the change of name of St. Petersburg to Petrograd had confirmation to the Foreign Office?