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La Légation de Grande-Bretagne à Berne au Département de l’Economie publique1

His Britannic Majesty’s Legation present their compliments to the Federal Department of Public Economy, and have the honour, under instructions from His Majesty’s Government, to inform the Department that the contents of the note which His Excellency, M. Schulthess was so good as to address to the Legation on the 20th ultimo2, are immediately being referred to the competent departments of His Majesty’s Government for consideration. His Majesty’s Government will not, however, feel able to enter into any negotiations with the Federal Government in regard to the respective proposals of the two Governments until replies have been received from the principal other countries, at least, which have been approached in this matter, as it is only in the light of such replies and of the indication that it is hoped that they will afford of the willingness of the countries concerned to make substantial reductions in their existing customs tariffs that His Majesty’s Government will be in a position to judge whether they can usefully proceed further in the present negotiations.