§ 65. Sir K. WOODasked the President of the Board of Trade if he can make a further statement concerning the proceedings of the Tariff Truce Conference; and what is the estimated cost of the attendance of the British delegates?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMAs regards the first part of the question, I can add nothing at present to the statement which I made to the House last Tuesday. As regards the second part, I understand that, on the assumption that the Conference lasts a month, the cost of the British delegation will be about £1,000.
§ Sir K. WOODIs the right hon. Gentleman going to inform the House of the very important decision that was arrived at yesterday, when the British scheme was superseded, and the French proposals were adopted and how the British delegates—[Interruption.]
§ Mr. SPEAKERI think that the right hon. Gentleman had better put down a question.
§ Sir K. WOODI will ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is prepared to make a statement as to what happened yesterday?
§ Mr. GRAHAMThese matters are still under consideration at Geneva; I propose to return to Geneva to-morrow, and at the earliest possible moment I will inform the House as to the decision come to.
§ Sir PHILIP CUNLIFFE-LISTERCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the report appearing in the Press is correct, that the French refuse to have anything to do with the British proposals, and that the French and Belgians, and, I think, the Germans, have agreed to an alternative scheme; and, if so, what action does he propose to take?
§ Mr. GRAHAMI should not like to express any view at all on Press reports, but I can tell the House that various plans are under consideration at the moment. I can only repeat that at the very earliest point, I will give the House information as to any decision that is reached.
§ Mr. J. JONESMay I ask how much more of this kind of thing we have to stand from those gentlemen opposite?