No. 529.
Mr. Phelps
to Mr. Bayard.
Legation of
the United States,
London, June 26, 1888.
(Received July 10.)
No. 790.]Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith an
extract from the Times newspaper of this date, in which you will find two
questions asked and answered yesterday in the House of Commons with regard
to the position of the United States in respect to the sugar-bounties
question.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure in No. 790.—The Times, Tuesday,
June 26, 1888.]
Sugar bounties.
Mr. Picton asked the under secretary of state for foreign affairs whether
the negotiations for the abolition of foreign sugar bounties extended to
the abolition or the reduction of the protective duties levied by
foreign nations on British sugar or on British manufactures in which
sugar was used.
Sir J. Fergusson. No; these negotiations relate
solely to the abolition of sugar bounties, and do not enter into
questions of duties on sugar or on manufactures in which sugar is
used.
Mr. Illingworth asked whether the Government of the United States had
taken a part in the conference on sugar bounties in the same manner and
on the same footing as the governments of the other countries concerned;
and whether the under secretary for foreign affairs was able to give the
House any information concerning the probability of the United States
Government joining in and adopting the conclusions of the
conference.
Sir J. Fergusson. The representative of the
United States attended the sugar conference to listen to its proceedings
and report the same, but without committing his Government. I am not
able to inform the House concerning the course which the Government of
the United States may take at future stages.
