, 1874-11-14

Wuole question was IN aOeyance. In the mean
time the West India body and the Refnerrs'
Committee were pressing both the Foreign
Office and the Treasury to take decided &C.
ton. Again Lord Derby demands a fulfil
ment of the Convention and the suppression 0e
b%ountieS, but his lordship refuses to listen to
the suggestion that q duty should be put on
French refined sugar, on tho ground that We
were bound by treaty to deal with France
and French produce on the most-favoured-ha-
tion footing, meaning, Of course, that the French
were to do as they pleased, and reap all the
advantage, while we were to have all the kicks.
This is the sentimental theory, which %unfortu-
nately seems to be now accepted as the leading
principle Of modern English craftsmanship.
How disastrously it has worked Ia regard to
English interests need not be said. It isa
principle that is probably imbedded too deeply
In our political system to be easily eradtcated:
but 1t might fairly be expected that, with @
strong Government like that now in power, the
opportunity for adopting o fresh and, it might
be added, q more reasonable line of policy, will
not be allowed to pass unimproved. The month
OF July came, and still the regulations were
not settled. The commission for framing them
was not even nominated by the French Gov
eminent. NJ. Ozenne put every difficulty in
the way. In the opinion of this clever gentle.
man fresh legislation might be necessary, and
MIR. Kennedy reported in consequence that no.
thing could be done until the Assembly was
again in Session. Mr.. Kennedy found reason
to add that the French would not conform to
the Convention of 1864, as the sugar inter-
est was strong in the Assembly. It was In
this month of July. 1t will be remembered, that
the West India Committee had an interview
with the Chancellor of the Exohequer, and sub
mitted q memorandum expounding the produ-
GERS view Of the case. This memorandum
was made the subject of a long despatch by
Mr.. W. II. Smith, N. p, the Secretary to the
Treasury, to the Foreign Office. This despatch
gives q history of the question, and is very
clear and good. Mr.. Smith shows that France
herself originated the negotiations for the Con-
ventiOn of 1864. The manner in which France
perslstently evaded the Convention and refused
to conform to it after it was made, is forcibly
exposed. The different conferences which fol-
lowed are mentioned, and the course Of the
controversy is traced down to the period of the
acceptance of the principle of refining in bond
by the French Assembly. Mr.. Smith asserts
that England was entitled to meet the action
of the French Government by imposing @ coun.
teryailing duty In defence Of English interests
and It Is hoped that Mr.. Smiths declaration
upon this point will not be forgotten, although
he proceeds to show that such O course would
not be in accordance with the commercial poll.
cy OF this country. Of course, no more en-
phatio condemnation of that policy could be
pronounced than by virtually saying that we
were prevented by it from doing an act of COM
mon Justice to English interests. Mr.. Smith
arrives, however, at rather an unexpected con-
%clusion, when he says that it would not be con-
sistent with the dignity of England to press the
French Government any more, beyond formal
ly calling upon the parties to the Convention to
conform to its provisions. This despatch was
dated July 81 of this year, and is followed by q
reprint of the Memorandum of the West India
Committee. Further papers by the Committee
are published, as we'll as the admirable Memo
rial of the British Guiana Planters Association,
signed by Mr.. Josias Booker. The parliament
taTy paper closes with a document stating that
the regulations for adopting refining In bond In
France would be taken into consideration by
the Council of State at Its meeting on October
Is. Although England has. therefore, practf-
oally withdrawn from the controversy. the mea-
sures necessary for carrying out the law voted
In March last by the Assembly are still moon.
plete.
Some Irish papers announce that Mr. Pope
Hennessey has been offered the GOvernorship
Of Barbados. 1t Is to be most earnestly hoped
that this is not the case, for q more unpopular
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