§ 22. Sir K. WOODasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any further information to give the House concerning the initiation of a dumping campaign by the Soviet Government in respect of Soviet produce; and, if not, whether he will cause inquiries to be made?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMI would refer to the answer which my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs gave to the right hon. Member on 24th November.
§ Sir K. WOODIs the right hon. Gentleman going to make any further inquiries from the trade point of view?
§ Mr. GRAHAMThere s a certain amount of information, but a report has been called for from His Majesty's Ambassador, and we must, of course, wait for that report.
§ Sir PHILIP CUNLIFFE-LISTERHas not the right hon. Gentleman received strong representations from manufacturers and tradesmen in this country, and not least from those in Lancashire?
§ Mr. GRAHAMCertain representations have been received, but on this question I have already given all the information that the Board of Trade has to the House.
§ Mr. HAYCOCKAs a matter of fact, do not the Soviet Government get as high a price as they can?
§ Mr. GRAHAMThat is precisely what is in controversy. It is strongly urged on the other side that some of these goods are sold at non-competitive prices.
§ 31. Brigadier-General Sir HENRY CROFTasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is prepared to consider an embargo upon Russian timber imported into Great Britain, similar to that proposed by the United States Treasury upon cargoes of Russian timber entering an American port upon the complaint of any citizen unless there is presentation of proof that the cargo contains no goods made in whole or in part by convict labour?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMAs has been stated on several occasions recently in this House, His Majesty's Government are not prepared to initiate legislation to extend the scope of the Foreign Prison-made Goods Act.
§ Sir H. CROFTWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the fact that in another friendly country it is taken for granted that this timber is produced by convict labour unless the contrary is proved?
§ Mr. GRAHAMUnder the enactment referred to, if anyone gives information, which is supported by evidence, to the Customs authorities, action will be taken, but it remains a very remarkable thing no one has come forward to give information.
§ Mr. HAYCOCKIs it not a fact that the American Government after investigation has lifted the embargo?
§ Mr. GRAHAMI believe that for a brief period an embargo was imposed and that after a short time it was withdrawn.
§ Sir H. CROFTIs it not the case that this question is actually under discussion in the United States?
§ Mr. GRAHAMYes it has been under discussion for a very considerable time, but that does not alter the fact stated in reply to my hon. Friend's question.
§ 32. Commander BELLAIRSasked the President of the Board of Trade if he has any information as to the action taken by Poland and Czechoslovakia against Soviet Russian dumping?
§ Mr. GRAHAMI am not aware of any action by Poland or Czechoslovakia directed specifically against imports from Soviet Russia.
§ Mr. BOOTHBYDoes the right hon. Gentleman propose to enter into any negotiations with the Soviet Government for a commercial treaty or any reciprocal arrangement?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat question does not arise.
§ 42. Commander BELLAIRSasked the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made as the result of the discussion on Soviet Russian dumping at the Economic Commission of the League of Nations?
§ Mr. GRAHAMI understand that the Economic Committee of the League have not yet concluded their investigations into the question of dumping.
43. Lieut.-Colonel Sir FREDERICK HALLasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will consider prohibiting the entry into this country from Russia of lace goods which have been manufactured on machines belonging to British firms and which have been confiscated by the Soviet Government?
§ Mr. GRAHAMI have no power to impose such a prohibition, nor do I contemplate taking such powers.
Sir F. HALLDoes the right hon. Gentleman think it is in the interests of the industries of this country that the products of sweated labour should be allowed to come in?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThis is a matter of opinion.
§ 55. Sir H. CROFTasked the (Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to official data giving the number of forced labourers not incarcerated in Russia, and stating that the number of sentenced prisoners so employed in 1928 was 260,631, and that they are mostly used for preparing export timber; whether his attention has been called to the sworn statement of Adam Kuortti, a Lutheran pastor, before the Public Notary at Helsingfors, to the effect that he and his fellow prisoners were employed on timber work, including the preparation and loading of pit props into railway trucks; and whether he proposes to take any action?
§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Philip Snowden)I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my reply to his previous question on this subject on the 25th November, in which I set out the requirements under the Foreign Prison-made Goods Act, 1897, which must be met before action can be taken under its provisions. Information of the nature referred to in the present question does not comply with those requirements and affords no basis for action under the Act.
§ Sir H. CROFTIf evidence is provided from escaped prisoners to the effect that timber is convict prepared and has been 1967 laden in British ships, will the right hon. Gentleman then be prepared to take action?
§ Mr. SNOWDENThe hon. Member had better, first of all, supply me with the information.
§ Commander BELLAIRSWill the right hon. Gentleman communicate with the Finnish Government—