§ 52. Mr. HOLTasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give a list of the treaties containing the Most-Favoured Nation Clause which the Government have denounced or have decided to denounce?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThis subject will be dealt with in the general statement which, in reply to questions, I promised would be made on behalf of the Government as soon as possible.
Mr. RUNCIMANWill my right hon. Friend, before the statement to the House is made, issue a white Paper giving a list of these treaties, as it will add greatly to our convenience?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI will consider that before the statement is made, but my right hon. Friend knows that it is a very complicated subject with regard to which the Foreign Office has been in correspondence with other countries, and the Colonial Office with the Dominions.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI cannot give a promise of that kind. It is impossible to deal with this matter by question and answer. It is very complicated. My answer was that the Government had decided to give themselves a free hand as regards the maintenance of these treaties.
§ Mr. C. ROBERTSWill the right hon. Gentleman include in the suggested White Paper the cases in which the proposed action will have the immediate effect of raising tariffs against British trade?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThat is a very controversial question. I have not promised to issue a White Paper, but I have promised to consider it.