London via Bombay, Feb. 15.
Replying to a question in the House of Commons the Hon. E. S. Montaga, Under-Secretary for India, said that France felt unable at the Brussels Conference to renounce ber rights of. unrestricted trade in arms with Muscat.—Reuter.
The second meeting of the Ioternational Conference at Traffic in 1910, without arris ing. That the proceedings proved an anderstanding with regard to the prohibition of the trade in arms from Jibati to' Maweat, and thence to Persis, Balochistan, and ultimately Afghsnietan, and the more or less unsettled districts on the northwest frontier of India. Direct negotiations (writes " The Times" correspondent at Paris) have been in progress between the British and French Govern-monte, but hitherto without result, the obstacle being the influential character of Frecch private interests, which are saffciently strong to make any real concession on the part of France anscceptable to the Chamber of Depatier, anices it were counterbalanced by some equivalent cotcassion on the part of the French Government, sach as could be adduced by the French Government before the Chamber in justification of ite aotion.—Ev.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.