§ 51. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he is 1264 aware that the Portuguese Government is granting a special rebate of 10 per cent. off the duty on all imported goods carried in Portuguese vessels; and whether, in view of the commercial treaties existing between this country and Portugal, any protest against this rebate has been made to the Portuguese Government in the interest of British shipping?
§ 52. Major CARVERasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he is aware that the duty on edible vegetable oils is now £25 per ton from this country to Portugal, and that the Portuguese Government is granting a special rebate of 10 per cent. off the duty on all imported goods carried in Portuguese vessels; and, in view of the effect on export business from Hull, where the bulk of this class of oil is produced, will he approach the Portuguese Government with the view of having this duty modified?
§ Sir B. CHADWICKThe rebate is granted under a Portuguese Decree of 22nd November, 1921. As the Anglo-Portuguese Commercial Treaty of 1914 secured, not national, but only most-favoured-nation treatment for British shipping, there are no treaty grounds on which a protest to the Portuguese Government could be based. His Majesty's Government, however; protested against the rebate on general grounds in 1921, but without avail. The Portuguese import duty on edible vegetable oils was increased as from 15th November last to about £25 per ton from £2 10s. per ton, and representations against this increase were made by His Majesty's Ambassador at Lisbon in December last and again in May, but, unfortunately, without success.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the matter to be allowed to rest at this point? Are we to be content only with these representations, of which, apparently, no notice is taken?
§ Sir B. CHADWICKNotice has been taken and representations have been made.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYNo notice was taken by the Portuguese Government. Are there no further steps that we are taking in the matter?
§ Major CARVERIs my hon. Friend aware that this Decree of the Portuguese Government is crippling the export trade of Hull and employment there, and as we understand that Portugal is our oldest ally will he not bring some pressure to bear on that country and ask the Portuguese to look upon this matter in a more friendly way?
§ Sir B. CHADWICKI am aware that this decision of the Portuguese Government is operating unfavourably to the port of Hull in certain directions, but, as I have explained, the Government have made representations to the Portuguese Government, which raised this duty on oil for the protection of its own olive oil industry.