39

A.—2

Enclosure. [Enclosure in Circular dated 11th August, 1909. J Commission Permanknte institutes hah la Convention Internationale dcs Suches. Rapport adresse au Gouvernemeiit beige, uu lioin de la Commission Permanente dcs Sucres, en execution de I'article 7 de la Convention dv 5 Mars, 1902. Lα Commission Permanente dcs Sucres s'esl leunie a Bruxelles les 21 et 22 Juin, 1909. Conformeinent a son ordre dv jour, la Commission s'est oecupee notamment dcs sucres dcs Colonies portugaises; et a la suite dun nouvel examen de la situation de l'industrie et dv commerce dcs sucres dans la Colonic de Mozambique, elle a decide de retablir les droits compensateurs lives anterieurement a l'e'gard dcs sucres <lr oette provenanoe, et dont l'application avait etc suspendue. Ces droits sont de F. 13.50 les Ino Kos. pom- les suores brute et de F. 13 les 100 Kos. pour les sucres raffines. Quant aux autres points figurant a l'ordre dv jour <le la session, ils n'ont pas fait, quant a present, I'objet de decisions de la part de la Commission permanente ; les echanges de vues auxquels ils ont donne lieu seront consignee aux proces-verbaux dcs deux stances. Ije President de la Commission Permanente. Bruxelles, le 24 Juin, 1909. Capellb.

No. 60. New Zealand, No. 157. My Lord, — Downing Street, 13th August, 1909. I have the honour to inform you that Sir Charles Lucas has expressed his very warm appreciation of the kindness extended to him in New Zealand, and I shall be glad if you will be good enough to convey to your Ministers my most cordial thanks for their courtesy to him, and for the kindly welcome which they have given him. 2. I have also to express my appreciation of the hospitality shown by yourself and by Lady Plunket both to Sir Charles and to Mr. Pearson. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 61. New Zealand, No. 159. My Lord, — Downing Street, 14th August, 1909. With reference to my predecessor's circular despatch of the 6th April, 1905, I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a letter from the Foreign Office on the subject of the grant of special Customs facilities to the consular officers of Governments by which similar facilities are accorded to His Majesty's consular officers abroad. 2. I may add that the Netherlands Minister has stated that the privilege of entry free of Customs duty is granted in respect of the undermentioned articles imported for British Consulates in the Netherlands colonies : — (1.) Furniture and effects in the case of " Consuls de Carriere." (2.) Flags, coats-of-arms, and other articles for official use imported by consular officers, whether " Consuls de Carriere " or not. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

Enclosure. No. 20065/09. Foreign Office, 9th June, 1909. I am directed by Secretary Sir E. Grey to state, for the information of the Earl of Crewe, that, as the result of communications between this Department and the Treasury, it has been decided that in the case of countries which accord substantially incioassd privileges in the matter of Customs facilities to His Majesty's diplomatic and consular officers abroad, preferential treatment will similarly be granted by His Majesty's Government,