§ 68. Mr. W. GREENWOODasked the President of the Board of Trade if be is aware that in July next there will be very considerable increases in the tariffs on goods imported into the United States; and if he proposes taking any action?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEProposals for the revision of the Customs Tariff are at. present before the Unitel States Legislature, but I am unable to forecast to what extent they will be adopted. I will consider, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether there is any action which His Majesty's Government can usefully take in the matter.
§ Mr. GREENWOODIn view of the encouraging cheers from my hon. Friends, may I ask the hon. Gentleman if he will consider the advisability of sending a, specifically strong deputation to the United States, including the hon. and gallant Gentleman the Member for Leith (Captain W. Benn) to protest against the Safeguarding of Industries Act in another country?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEI think that is a proposal which ought to be addressed to the hon. and gallant Member for Leith. I am sure that either with or without his assistance all the steps that can he taken will be taken.
§ Mr. W. THORNEIs the hon. Member prepared to advise the Government to bring this question of tariffs before The Hague Conference with a view to knocking down some of these tariff barriers?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEI have spent about six weeks at Genoa very largely trying to get all the countries of Europe to adopt the Most-Favoured-Nation Clause, and I hope not altogether without result.
§ Mr. THORNEWill the report mentioned by the hon. Member be circulated?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEYes. The Report of the Economic Commission has already been circulated as a Parliamentary Paper.
§ Captain W. BENNDid the hon. Member communicate to that, Conference extracts from his own speeches in favour of Protection made in this House?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEI delivered a speech at the Conference in favour of the Most-Favoured-Nation Clause which I am pleased to say commanded the sympathy of my hon. and gallant Friend.