§ MR. LAMONT (Buteshire)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that, at the Inter-Colonial Conference upon Trade Relations between the West Indies and the Dominion of Canada, held at Barbados in January last, resolutions were passed in favour of a mutual reduction of tariffs as between the Dominion on one hand and certain of the West Indian Colonies on the other; whether the Government regards with favour this movement in the direction of imperial free trade; and, if so, whether the Colonial Office has offered, or will offer, to assist the Crown Colonies concerned in carrying their negotiations to a successful issue.
§ COLONEL SEELYWe have not yet learned the wishes of the Governments concerned and therefore cannot at present make any definite statement.
§ MR. LEVERTON HARRIS (Tower Hamlets, Stepney)Will the Secretary of State get the information as soon as possible?
§ COLONEL SEELYYes, Sir; my noble friend is engaged in obtaining it now. My hon. friend will understand that the views of many Governments have to be ascertained and we cannot get an answer immediately.
SIR GILBERT PARKERDid not the Resolution refer merely to a reduction of tariffs on certain specified articles in both countries to which preference should be given?
§ COLONEL SEELYI must ask for notice. I am only aware of the general trend of the matter.
§ MR. R. DUNCAN (Lanarkshire, Govan)Are the Crown Colonies in a different position from self-governing Colonies in making these arrangements?
§ COLONEL SEELYI can hardly deal with that matter in reply to a supplementary Question.
§ MR. MITCHELL-THOMSON (Lanarkshire, N.W.)Will the hon. Gentleman consider the desirability of laying the correspondence?
§ COLONEL SEELYI will consult the Secretary of State on that point.