§ 15. Sir KINGSLEY WOODasked the Lord Privy Seal whether he has bad any communication from the president of the Canadian wheat pool, with whom he recently discussed proposals relating to reciprocal trade between Canada and Great Britain, concerning the proposal that vessels carrying grain from Canada might secure return cargoes of British coal?
§ Sir K. WOODIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this gentleman publicly stated that, as far as his interests are concerned, the whole matter has been dropped?
Mr. THOMASI do not know what gentleman the right hon. Gentleman refers to, but, if the right hon. Gentleman will look up the facts, he will see that when I was negotiating with the wheat pool wheat was then 1 dollar 47 cents, and I advised them to sell them so that I could get the coal out, but they did not take my advice, and wheat now stands at 1 dollar 3 cents.
Earl WINTERTONIn view of the great interest which is taken both in Canada and in this country in the negotiations which the right hon. Gentleman 1055 had with these important Canadian interests, will he consider publishing, either now or at some future date, a White Paper explaining exactly what he did advise these Canadian business men to do? May we not have a history of the negotiations?
Mr. THOMASIf the Noble Lord is speaking with authority for those in Canada, I am quite prepared to consider that matter, but I may say that at their request I gave a statement—first to the House—which was an agreed statement, and I have no evidence that would warrant me in believing that they desire anything else to be said.