7

A.—2a

Enclosure No. 1. Eoyal Order. [Translation.] Madrid, 13th January, 1892. Considering the inquiries which have been addressed to this Ministry with regard to the interpretation of Articles I. and VI. of the Eoyal Decree of the 31st December last, as to the date on which the new tariff is to come into force, and as to the duties which are to be charged on goods from countries whose commercial treaties with Spain terminate on the 30 th June next: And considering that England and the Netherlands continue to enjoy up to the 30th June next the benefits in general which are secured to them by their respective treaties, in addition to those contained in the treaties concluded between Spain and Germany on the 12th July, 1883, and with France on the 6th February, 1882 : His Majesty the King, and, in his name, the Queen Eegent decrees, — 1. That merchandise which enters the Customs lines of Spain, either by sea or land, until midnight of the 31st of this month of January will enjoy the benefits of the tariff now in force, inasmuch as the new tariff does not come into force till the Ist January next. 2. In accordance with the above Article, the Custom-houses will remain open until midnight in order to receive manifests and way-bills. On these documents will be entered carefully the hour at which they are presented, provided always that they conform with the Marine and Sanitary Eegulations of the port of entry. 3. Merchandise of British or Dutch origin will continue to enjoy to the 30th of June of the present year the benefits of the duties contained in the tariffs Letter (B), annexed to the Treaties of Commerce and Navigation between Spain and Germany of the 12th July, 1883, and of France of the 6th January, 1882. 4. In order that the duties in those tariffs (which were annexed to the treaties for merchandise to which the said tariffs refer) may be applied, it is necessary that a certificate of origin should be presented at the Custom-house drawn up in the form laid down in Eule 12 of the new tariff approved of by the Eoyal Order of the 31st December, 1891. 5. All British and Dutch goods not specified in the above tariffs, Letter (B) annexed respectively to the French and German Treaties, will, up to the 30th July, 1892, pay duty in accordance with the second column of the new tariff approved by the Eoyal Decree of the 31st December, 1891. 6. Goods of Finnish origin comprised in the tariff, Letter (B), annexed to the Treaty of Commerce and Navigation between Spain and Eussia of the 2nd July, 1887, will, up to the 30th June of the present year, pay in accordance with the duties specified in the above tariff, Letter B), it being understood that, in order to enjoy this privilege, Finnish goods must be imported direct from Finland without transhipment on the voyage ; no necessity of justifying their origin by means of a certificate being required. 7. The regulations referred to in Eule 8 of the tariff of the 31st December last, as well as that at present in force, are those laid down in the Law of Commercial Eelations with the Colonies of the 30th June, 1882, as well as in the Article XIII. of the Budget Law of the 29th June, 1887 ; and they are only of a temporary nature which will last until the treatment to which the foreign flag will be subjected in the trade and navigation between the Peninsula and the Colonies has been definitely settled. 8. For the carrying-out of the preceding regulations relative to British, Dutch, and Finnish goods the Custom-houses must refer to the official edition of the tariff of the 31st December, 1889, which is still in force, and which contains the respective treaties of commerce. By order of Her Majesty, I state this for your information and guidance. I have, &c, To the Director-General of Indirect Taxation. Concha.

Enclosure No. 2. Certificates of Origin.—Spain. [Extract from Spanish Tariff, 1892.] Faculty is reserved to the Minister of Finance to require the presentation of a certificate of origin in order that the duties in the second column of the tariff, or those which may be subsequently settled with foreign nations, may be charged on their merchandise. Certificates of origin will be drawn out in conformity with the following rules :— 1. The certificate will consist of an official declaration made by the producer or manufacturer, or an authorised person on his behalf, before the local authority of the place of production or deposit in the producing State, that the merchandise to which the certificate refers is his manufacture, or the produce of his industry. The Spanish Consuls for the districts concerned will legalize the signatures of the said authorities, who may be, according to the regulations of each country, the Mayor, the Chamber of Commerce and Navigation, the police authorities, public notaries, and also Directors of Customs. 2. The certificate will set forth the number, marks, enumeration, &c, gross weight of the packages, &c, the material or class of the merchandise, specifying definitely, as regards yarns and tissues, whether they are of cotton, hemp or flax, wool, or silk, or a mixture of these materials. 3. The certificates can come drawn up in Spanish or French. When presented drawn up in other languages, they will be translated into Spanish at the choice of the merchant, by sworn interpreters, by interpreting ship-brokers, by commercial brokers, by the Boards of Agriculture, Industry, and Commerce of the locality, or by the Consuls of the countries to which the merchandise appertains.