CO885-(18-19) — Page 167

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

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