§ 21. Mr. WARDLAW-MILNEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in the Commercial Convention, signed as a result of the Tariff Conference, any arrangement is made by which notice of such an increase in tariff duties as would enable the Convention to be denounced is to be given to the other signatories to the Convention at the time such increase is imposed?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMYes, Sir; a provision to this effect is embodied in Article 3 of the Convention. I ought perhaps to explain that this obligation does not extend to the fiscal duties imposed by this country or by the other countries enumerated in the Protocol to Article 4, which do not normally consolidate their Customs duties by treaty.
§ Mr. WARDLAW-MILNEIt is clear that we shall have fresh notice in every case of an increase?
§ Mr. GRAHAMYes, that is provided in the draft Convention.
§ 22. Mr. WARDLAW-MILNEasked the President of the Board of Trade how many further countries signed the Commercial Convention resulting out of the Tariff Conference before the closing date for signatories on 15th April?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMIn addition to the 11 countries which, as stated in the White Paper (Cmd. 3539), signed the Convention at the close of the Conference, the following seven countries signed it on or before the 15th April: Denmark, Greece, Latvia, Norway, Poland, Roumania and Sweden.
§ Mr. WARDLAW-MILNEIs the right hon. Gentleman, as representing the British Government, satisfied that this is a satisfactory end to the Conference?
§ Mr. GRAHAMI have already explained that, everything considered, it is a very satisfactory beginning.