19. Dr. VERNON DAVIESasked the President of the Board of Trade whether any of the Dominions of the British Empire who are members of the League of Nations signed the International Convention for the Abolition of Import and Export Prohibitions and Restrictions signed at Paris, 20th December, 1929; if so, will he state the names of these Dominions; was an invitation sent to these Dominions and were they represented; and will he give the names of the parts of the British Empire which are not separate members of the League of Nations on whose behalf our delegates signed?
§ Following are the figures:
§ The official trade returns of the United Kingdom and of the United States of America show that the trade between those countries and the Soviet Union in the years 1925–27 was as stated in the following tables:
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMNo, Sir. Only the signatories of the original Convention of November, 1927, were invited to the Conference in Paris in December last, and none of the Dominions were therefore invited. India was invited as the original Convention had been signed on her behalf, but the Indian delegate did not sign the Protocol of 20th December by which the Convention was brought into force. As regards the last part of the question, the signature of the delegate of the United Kingdom to the Convention and to the Protocol signed at Paris on 20th December, 1929, did not in either case include any of His Majesty's Colonies, Protectorates, or territories under suzerainty or mandate.
§ Mr. HANNONDoes the right hon. Gentleman's answer mean that these instruments are now in operation as between the nations of Europe against the will of our overseas Dominions?
§ Mr. GRAHAMNo, Sir: I think that that hardly follows, but I should not like to give an explanation why in reply to a supplementary question.