§ 39 and 40. Sir RICHARD COOPERasked (1) the President of the Board of Trade if he can say whether aniline dyes and oils now being sold to consumers in Britain by the Society of Chemical Industry in Basle as being of Swiss production are in fact in a large measure of German manufacture; and (2) if he is aware of the advantage that is being taken of our present shortage of aniline dyes and oils by German manufacturers through intermediaries in Switzerland and the United Kingdom to secure a monopoly of the aniline dye trade of Britain for three years after the termination of the War, and to make it impracticable for British Dyes, Limited, and other British manufacturers of aniline dyes to compete in this trade; and will he give an assurance to consumers of aniline dyes in Britain that they will be suitably protected after the War against unreasonable contracts which they are being compelled to enter into in order to secure any supply of dyes for their immediate needs?
Mr. RUNCIMANI am not aware of any basis for the suggestion that the Swiss makers of dyestuffs are sending German dyestuffs to this country, or in any way acting as intermediaries for German firms; and I have no reason to suppose that any contracts which British consumers may make with the Swiss firms will have the result suggested by the hon. Gentleman.
§ Sir R. COOPERIf evidence can be brought to the Board of Trade to show that the present consumers are practically threatened with the inability to obtain their dyes unless they do enter into a contract three years after the Trading With the Enemy Act becomes law, would the Government protect them and enable them to get their present supplies?
§ Sir R. COOPERMay I make representations to the right hon. Gentleman giving him what I regard as a case?