HC Deb 17 April 1923 vol 162 cc1847-8
16. Captain BENN

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any proposal has been made by the German Government offering to relinquish control of trade in the occupied area, provided that the armies of occupation would follow the same course; whether such a proposal has been considered; and. if so, with what result?

Viscount WOLMER

The proposal of the German Government that they would in certain cases relinquish the export duties which they were not in a position to collect, if the French and Belgian Governments would also relinquish all claim to such duties in the areas of which they were in occupation, was rejected by His Majesty's Government for the reasons which the President of the Board of Trade gave in the Debate on the 12th April.

Captain BENN

If the proposals had been accepted, would it not have been of great advantage to British trade?

Viscount WOLMER

No. I think that the result of our acceptance of those proposals would have been for us to side definitely with Germany in this matter.

Captain BENN

I am not asking the Noble Lord about Germany, but whether the acceptance of these proposals would not have done something to assist these traders?