asked the Vice President of the Council, Whether he can inform the House if the Government have any arrangement in progress which will enable Germany to be excepted from the list of scheduled countries for the import of cattle; and, whether there is any objection to the immediate admission of cattle from the Duchy of Oldenburg on the same conditions as cattle are now imported from Schleswig Holstein?
Sir, negotiations have been carried on since the Vienna Conference in 1872 between those European Governments who sent representatives to that Conference, with a view to relieve generally the restrictions upon the transit of cattle. Pending the result of these negotiations the Privy Council do not think it advisable further to relax the restrictions which obtain in this country in regard to the transit of foreign cattle in favour of any particular Country or State. The Government is not, therefore, at present prepared to except Germany from the list of scheduled countries, or to allow cattle brought during this summer from the Duchy of Oldenburg to be imported on the same terms as cattle from Schleswig Holstein.