HC Deb 04 February 1930 vol 234 cc1670-1
59. Mr. HANNON

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now in a position to state the extent to which the recent concession of the Argentine Government in the remission of import duties on silk and artificial silk from Great Britain is affected by commercial agreements embodying most-favoured-nation treatment between the Argentine and other countries?

Mr. W. GRAHAM

A list of the countries with which Argentina has treaties containing a most-favoured-nation Clause was given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in answer to a question by the hon. Member for Devizes (Mr. Hurd) on the 9th December. As I informed the hon. Member in answer to a question on the 21st January, no reduction in the duties on artificial silk goods has yet been made, the scope of the reduction being still under the consideration of the Argentine Government.

Mr. HANNON

Does not the right hon. Gentleman's answer really amount to this, that the so-called concession by the Argentine Government means, in point of fact, nothing at all to the silk industry of this country; and is it the fact that 11 foreign countries have protested against this concession being made to us?

Mr. GRAHAM

I am not aware of the last point, but it would be quite wrong to say that it does not represent a concession to this country. It need not, of course, have any bearing on concessions elsewhere, but it is of definite value to us.

Mr. MATTERS

Is it not the fact that, largely owing to ill-informed criticism in this country, the agreement referred to is actually cancelled?

Mr. GRAHAM

I should not like to say that definitely at this stage, but I certainly think it is very unfortunate, from the point of view of trade, if criticism is cast on a proposal of this kind.

Mr. HANNON

Is it not very important to this House that the British Empire should be considered before a foreign country?

Mr. HURD

Is it not the fact that most of the difficulties that have arisen have arisen because of the obscurity of the statements of the right hon. Gentleman himself and of other representatives of the Government, and the difference between those statements and the statements of the British Ambassador?

Mr. GRAHAM

No, Sir; I do not agree with that for a single moment. The very clearest possible statements have been made repeatedly in this House.