asked the Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether any reply has yet been received from the Portuguese Government as regards the increased charges now being made on British shipping entering Portuguese ports; and can he make any statement as to what action the British Government has taken on this important action to British interests by a friendly and Allied Power?

Yes, Sir; His Majesty's Minister at Lisbon was recently informed by the Portuguese Government that they intended to submit shortly to the Cortes a Bill which, as far as national interests permitted, would take into sympathetic consideration the representations made by His Majesty's Government. The Portuguese Government having shown their readiness to meet His Majesty's Government in a friendly spirit, my hon. Friend will see that the second part of his question does not arise.