THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, NOVEMBER 22, 1907. 1437
At this meeting a very general desire was expressed that, in these circumstances, arrange- ments should, if possible, be made which would permit Great Britain to remain a party to the Sugar Convention. After a somewhat prolonged discussion lasting over three days the Pro- ject of Protocol, which is annexed to this despatch as Enclosure 1, was drawn up for sub- mission to the respective Governments, on the understanding that if accepted by them it should be signed before the 1st of September next by their Diplomatic Representatives at Brussels.
As it will be necessary for this Instrument, if accepted and signed, to be submitted for the approval of the Parliament in several of the Contracting States, a further delay was stipulated in order to enable this necessary formality to be completed, and it was agreed that the ratifications must be deposited at Brussels at the latest by the 1st of February, 1908. Provision has been made in the Protocole de Signature annexed to the Project of Protocol to enable His Majesty's Government, in case the necessary ratifications have not been de- posited by the date prescribed, to give, on or before the 1st of March, 1908, notice of with- drawal from the Convention, to take effect on the 1st of September, 1908. If, therefore, the Project of Protocol recommended by the Permanent Commission should be duly accepted and signed before the 1st of September next, it will not be necessary for His Majesty's Govern- ment to give notice of withdrawal by that date.
I should mention that as regards the certificate for refined sugar alluded to in Article 2 of the Project of Protocol, the form shown in Enclosure 2 to the present despatch has been unanimously accepted by the Commission, on the understanding that the form cannot be varied without the consent of His Majesty's Government.
In regard to sugared products, I stated clearly and definitely that Great Britain could not undertake to furnish certificates of origin. No doubt can therefore subsist as to the intentions of His Majesty's Government upon this point.
The Project of Protocol will very shortly be communicated by the Permanent Bureau to His Majesty's Government with a request that they will state as soon as possible whether they accept it-and are prepared to instruct His Majesty's Minister at Brussels to sign it at the proper time. I venture very respectfully to suggest that His Majesty's Government should intimate their intentions in this respect to the Belgian Government with as little delay as possible.
I cannot close this despatch without alluding to the extreme tact and courtesy with which Monsieur Léon Capelle presided over this somewhat critical meeting of the Com- mission, the labours of which were greatly facilitated by his judgment and experience.
The Right Honourable
Sir Edward Grey, Bart., M.P.,
&c.,
&c.,
&c.
I have, &c.,
H. G. BERGNE.
Enclosure 1.
27 juillet 1907.
PROJET d'acte additionnel à la Convention du 5 mars 1902 relative au régime
des sucres.
[The draft was in identical terms with the Act as signed.]