§ 17. Sir J. POWERasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is proposed to terminate the International Agreement which makes it impossible for certain Crown Colonies in Africa to accord tariff preferences to British goods?
§ Mr. AMERYI would refer my hon. Friend to my reply on this subject of 19th March. The International Agreements, which prevent certain tropical African Dependencies from granting preferential treatment to British goods are the Anglo-French Convention of 1898, one clause of which affects Nigeria and the Gold Coast, and the Convention of St. Germain-en-Laye, which affects Kenya and certain other East African Dependencies. As my hon. Friend is no doubt aware, the essential clause of the former Convention must remain in force until June, 1929, while the earliest date at which the Convention of St. Germain-en-Laye can come up for revision is the summer of 1930. The position under both Conventions is at present under examination by the competent Departments of His Majesty's Government and by the Governments of the Dependencies concerned.