I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government are taking any steps, and if so, what steps, to secure the removal of the surtax of 30 per cent. on all goods shipped to Venezuelan ports from the West Indies, which was imposed by the Venezuelan Government in 1881 in contravention of Article 4 of the treaty of 1825.

I regret to state that I can add nothing to the Answer which I returned to the hon. Member on this subject on July 28th, 1906‡.

Are negotiations in progress?

The question has been discussed.