§ Mr. C. BATHURSTasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he received on or about the 8th April, 1910, a letter from the Welsh Plate and Sheet Manufacturers' Association, representing fifty-one sheet and tinplate works, with an annual wages total of £1,300,000, pointing out the serious injury which would be caused to their members, and to many thousands of operatives employed at their respective works, if the proposed new Japanese tariff on tinplates, black plates, and galvanised sheets comes into force upon the expiration of the present commercial treaty with Japan on the 16th July next; if so, what action he has taken in the matter, and with what result; and (2) whether he is aware that a considerable quantity of oil is imported into Japan from the United States, all of which is packed in canisters or cases made exclusively of tinplates; that such oil is at present subject to an import duty upon arrival in Japan, but that the canisters or cases containing it are admitted free of any duty whatever; and whether, in view of the fact that under the proposed new Japanese tariff no alteration is to be made in the above arrangement, but that the duty will be increased upon British 1678W tinplates by 30 per centum, he will enter forthwith into negotiations with the Japanese Government with a view to preventing such preference to the United States to the detriment of an important British industry?
Mr. BUXTONI will answer this and the succeeding question together. I am not at present able to make any statement on the subject of the treaty negotiations which have been proceeding between His Majesty's Government and the Government of Japan.