§ 11. Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, upon the Belgian Government assuming responsibility for the administration of the Congo Basin, several leading British merchants and manufacturers commenced, and have continued, to incur very large financial obligations for the development of the palm kernels and the palm oil of the Congo from which the ports of Liverpool, Hull, and Bristol have derived increasing benefit; and whether His Majesty's Government has considered the serious consequences which would now arise if the Belgian Government should decide to impose a differential Export Duty upon all oil products destined for other than Belgian ports?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Cecil Harmsworth)I understand that the facts are as stated in the first part of the hon. and gallant Member's question. With regard to the second part, as I informed the hon. and gallant Member on 1st December, the General Act of Berlin prohibits the imposition of differential Export Duties in the Conventional Basin of the Congo.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYAs I asked the hon. Gentleman on 1st December, in equity are we, therefore, entitled to put a differential Export Duty on our products sent to our Colonies?
§ Mr. HARMSWORTHI told the hon. Member that I was not competent to discuss that question.