§ 4. Mr. JACOBasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether, with a view to extending British markets and relieving unemployment, he will do everything possible to arrange for preferential treatment of British goods in our Asiatic Colonies and Dependencies, namely, Ceylon, Hong Kong, Straits Settlements, Malay States, North Borneo, Brunei, Sarawak, and Aden, which at present do not appear to reciprocate our preference for Empire products?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for COLONIAL AFFAIRS (Mr. Amery)With one or two exceptions goods imported into Hong Kong and Malaya are not subject to impart duty and my right hon. Friend informs me that there are no customs duties at Aden. I am not in a position to interfere in the internal administration of North Borneo and Sarawak. The question of granting preference to British goods was discussed by the Legislative Council of Ceylon a few years ago and was rejected, and I am not prepared to reopen the matter at the present time.
§ Colonel DAYWill the right hon. Gentleman say what the exceptions are?
§ 9. Mr. JACOBasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why British imports have no tariff preference in the African Colonies not possessing responsible Government, namely, Kenya, Zanzibar, Sudan, Somaliland, St. Helena, Gold Coast, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Gambia, although some of their produce enjoys preference in the British market; and, in view of the promises of the Government at the 1924 Election to extend Empire Preference, will he use his influence to bring these Colonies and possessions into line with the self-governing African Colonies on the subject of preference for British goods?
§ Mr. AMERYOf the dependencies mentioned, Kenya, Zanzibar, the Gold Coast and Nigeria, differential treatment is excluded by international agreements. The Sudan is not under the supervision of the. Colonial Office. As regards the others the matter will receive consideration, but the peculiar conditions, geographical and financial, of the Gambia, St. Helena and Somaliland render it unlikely that an extension of Imperial Preference would be beneficial to those dependencies or materially assist British trade.
§ Sir FREDRIC WISEWhat does the Sudan come under?
§ Sir WILLIAM DAVISONDo we receive the same treatment with regard to other nations which they mete out to us under the agreements to which the right hon. Gentleman has referred?
§ Mr. AMERYYes, Sir. One set of agreements is that initiated by the Berlin and Brussels Act; which affects all European Powers within certain degrees of latitude in Equatorial Africa. Another agreement is the agreement of 1898, between ourselves and France, under which in certain West African territories of both Powers no discriminating duties are to be imposed.