644320-1894-Royal-Decree-re-Trade-with-Spain — Page 1

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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 17TH MARCH, 1894.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.—No. 101.

The following is published.

By Command,

G. T. M. OBRIEN, Colonial Secretary.

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 13th March, 1894.

The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has received from Her Majesty's Ambassador at Madrid the following translation, in précis, of a Royal Decree respecting the trade of Great Britain with Spain :-

(Translation in précis.)

Extract from the "Madrid Gazette" of January 1, 1894.

PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS.

Preamble.

In view of the fact that the Conventions concluded with Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and Holland come into operation on the 1st January, while the Commercial Treaties with Germany, Austria, and Italy, the Conventions with Great Britain and Denmark, and the Provisional Agreement concluded with France are awaiting ratification, it becomes necessary to adopt certain measures for establishing a legitimate reciprocity until the Cortes shall have met, discussed the Conventions, and submitted their suggestions for Royal sanction. These measures should not differ from those adopted in the case of nations with whom we have recently concluded Treaties, and those which, in virtue of past Agreements, are entitled to most-favoured-nation treatment, in view of the Conventions coming into force on the 1st January.

With regard to those nations which have not yet concluded new Commercial Agreements, and those coming under the Second Column of the Tariff in virtue of the Royal Order of the 29th June 1892, it is impossible to introduce any change until a more satisfactory arrangement is arrived at.

Madrid, December 31, 1893.

(Signed)

PRAXIDES MATEO SAĜASTA.

Royal Decree.

In the name of my august son, King Alphonso XIII., and as Queen-Regent of the Realm, at the instigation of the Council of Ministers,

I hereby decree as follows:

Article 1. From the 1st January next, and pending the deliberations of the Cortes on the Project of Law to be immediately laid before them, the most reduced ("mas reducidos") Tariff and further advantages resulting from the Commercial Conventions with Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, and Holland shall be applied to the products of the soil and industries of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Denmark, France, Great Britain and her Colonies, and Italy, subject to the same conditions as those under which those benefits are conceded.

Art. 2. Similar rights and immunities shall be applied to those nations possessing the most- favoured-nation clause in Treaties of Commerce, Peace, or Friendship, which have not been nained.

Art. 3. The duties of the Second Column of the Tariff shall continue to be levied in the form now applying to the products of the soil and industries of all other nations entitled to this advantage, in virtue of the Royal Order of the 29th June 1892.

Art. 4. The Government shall notify the provisions of this Decree to the Cortes. Given at the Palace the 31st December 1893.

The President of the Council of Ministers,

(Signed)

MARIA CHRISTINA.

(Signed)

PRAXIDES MATEO SAGASTA.