PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O.885
1.
50
The foregoing statement of the views of His Majesty's Government will, I think, be sufficient for your instruction and guidance as British delegate at the forthcoming meeting of the Sugar Commission,
With regard to the Crown Colonies they are already exempt from the obligations imposed upon the contracting States by Article IV., but should any further conces- sion be obtained in respect of the United Kingdom such as, for instance, exemption from the obligations of Article VIII., you should endeavour to secure that any such concession shall apply equally to the Crown Colonies. In Hong Kong, for example, where, as you are aware, owing to there being no Customs establishment, the prohi- bition on bounty-fed sugar has been resorted to in order to carry out the obligations of Article VIII., considerable inconvenience would be caused to the important refining industry of that Colony should it become necessary, owing to a decision of the Permanent Commission that raw sugar from the Philippine Islands was bounty- fed, to forgo such a considerable part of their supply of raw sugar; while its prohi- bition by the Hong Kong Government might, at the same time, cause irritation in the Philippine Islands and in the United States.
It would, therefore, be desirable to obtain for the Crown Colonies exemption from the obligations of Article VIII. if it can be obtained without endangering the chances of the continuance of the Convention.
I enclose herewith, for your information, copy of a letter* from the India Office, as to the attitude of the Government of India towards the various questions which have now arisen,
Sir H. Bergne, K.C.B., K.C.M.G.,
&c., &c.,
&c.
I am, &c.,
EDWARD GREY.
51
2. That Greenock, owing to its great natural advantages, has been engaged in sugar refining for a period of over one hundred and forty years, and has become identified with that industry.
3. That, in view of the declaration by His Majesty's Government of their intention to withdraw from the Brussels Convention unless released from the obliga- tion to penalise bounty-fed sugar, your Petitioners, at a special meeting of the members, held on 20th June, 1907, unanimously passed the following Resolution:-
"That this meeting, having learned that His Majesty's Government has intimated its dissent from the existing terms of the Brussels Convention, involving, if insisted upon, the probable withdrawal of this country from the Convention, strongly protests against this action, and remits to the Directors of the Chamber to petition His Majesty's Ministers through the Foreign and Colonial Secretaries to reconsider their decision."
4. That your Petitioners, during a period of twenty-five years prior to the signing of the Convention, took a very active part in the agitation for the abolition of foreign bounties on sugar, and consequently it is with the greatest apprehension that they contemplate the present action of Ilis Majesty's Government, which is practically certain to nullify the effects of the Convention, reintroduce conditions which closed many of the refineries of this town, and transfer to foreign countries an important national industry.
سحا
5. That the following figures show the effect of foreign bounties on the refining industry of the country prior to the Brussels Convention, and also the result to the refining trade since Great Britain became a party to the Convention:-
Year.
Annual Consumption.
Average price of 88% Beet .o.b. Hamburg.
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
18 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
Meltinga in British Refineries.
Imports of Foreign Refined.
Tons.
No. 69.
26242
MY LORD,
MR. H. STEWART, M.P., to COLONIAL OFFICE.
(Received July 23, 1907.)
[Copy to Foreign Office, July 30, 1907. L.F.] [Answered by No. 80.]
House of Commons Library, July 22, 1907. Ar the request of the Greenock Chamber of Commerce I beg to transmit to your Lordship a petition setting forth the grave disadvantages which may accrue to the sugar refining industry of Greenock if the Government should persist in its demand that Great Britain should be released from the obligation to penalise bounty- fed sugar, or as an alternative policy should withdraw altogether from the Brussels Convention.
This is a matter of supreme concern to the sugar refining trade and allied and dependent industries, and I bespeak for the petition your most careful consideration.
I am, &c.,
HALLEY STEWART.
1886
899,785
Tons. 319,634
1887
909,903
319,072
Tons. 1,146,414
1,173,338
8. d.
12 0
12 2
1888
916,759
314,950
1,182.612
14 3
1889
899,124
449,411
1,282,660
16 11
1890
837,401
473,255
1,249,110
12 7
1891
817,758
511,920
1,335,576
13 3
1892
819,077
532,386
1,281,528
13 7
1893
785,000
557,514
1891
738,237
683,306
1,255,250
1,348,519
15 21
11 61
1895
768,260
707,535
1,402,400
9 94
1896
734,000
724,976
1,384,034
10 61
1897
651,732
772,994
1,378,516
8 10
1898
684,0×3
794,581
1,435,566
9 51
1899
617,801
868,025
1,147 326
10 0
Enclosure in No. 69.
1900
589,437
934,789
1,488,535
10 41
UNTO the Right Honourable the EARL OF ELGIN and KINCARDINE, K.G., G.C.S.I., G.C.I.E., His Majesty's Secretary for the Colonies.
1901
582,084
1,044,315
1 592,513
8 63
The humble Petition of the Greenock Chamber of Commerce and Manufactures, incorporated by Royal Charter, 1813.
Sheweth :-
1902
580,505
1,000,277
1,539,461
6 71
1903
595,943
925,783
1,405,345*
8 3
1. That your Petitioners number over two hundred members, and represent sugar refining, ship owning, shipbuilding, engineering, manufacturing, and other important industries.
1901
668,095
863,404
1,496,831
10 03
1905
6-11,687
746,360
1,353,796†
11 51
1906
670,846
891,869
1,510,431
8 71
• Enclosure in No. 58.
• Convention began 1st September.
† 1,200,000 tons short in beet crop.
• 28570
G ?