ENGLAND’S COMMERCIAL TREATIES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 9428, 1 June 1891, Page 6

ENGLAND’S COMMERCIAL TREATIES.

TO THE EDITOB. g rßi I was very pleased to see from your report of the meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, held on Friday afternoon last, that Mr Perceval had brought up the question of England’s commercial treaties

relegated to a Committee of the Ohaanbi to consider. I hope this ‘Committee wi take the matter in hand at once, and pr

sent their decision to the Government, as it is very important immediate action! should be taken, seeing that the treaties! with Belgium and Germany expire next! year, and that the Treaties Committee ofi the London Board of Trade is new oon«| sidering the advisability of renewing thesaj treaties in their present form, or note There is no doubt that so longas tho{ " most-favoured nation ” clause re*j mains in the treaties made with Bel-j gium and Germany, the Colonies aim so tied that they can neither make -treaties with England nor yet amongst thorn selves* without thirty-four foreign treaties pazttew paring in any reciprocal arrangements than might be made." Protests have already been made by Canada and South Africa' against the renewal of these- treaties iai their present form, and with the assistance! of the Australasian Colonies, I have aa doubt the efforts being made wffl ba successful in having removed «■s'eat© of things which may, at any time, prove aj menace to the unity or iol thaj empire. Thanking you beforeHandiw the space,—l am, Ac., D. BELLHCUSEL - ;