Mr. HAMMEKSLEY (by Private Notice)asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received a telegram from the Manchester Chamber of Commerce:
Lancashire much perturbed at this morning's reports India cotton duties. Urge immediate cable representation to Government of India expressing dismay at Private Member's motion to increase to 20 per cent. duty on British plain goods. 15 per cent. gives Bombay mills margin greater than circumstances justify. Further margin on any part of the trade would be regarded as intentionally anti-British and would gravely prejudice political situation. Indian Government should adhere strongly to its first well considered proposals and should decline any alterations, otherwise serious political reactions unavoidable in this country";And what action he is taking in the matter?
§ Mr. GILLETT (Secretary Overseas Trade Department)A telegram in those terms has been received. In the absence of my right hon. Friend I have replied as follows:
President had left for Geneva before receipt yesterday of your telegram in regard to Indian cotton duties; but we ascertained from India Office that the Tariff Bill was to be introduced to-day (Thursday) and that Government of India had already agreed to accept amendment to which you refer so that no opportunity remained for further representations such as you suggested. You will have seen from the correspondence published in this morning's papers that the Government here had previously done everything in their power to represent Lancashire's views as strongly as India's recognised position in fiscal matters permitted. We understand that the Government of India agreed to the amendment in order to ensure the acceptance of the Bill which, though no doubt in the present form less advantageous to Lancashire than the original proposals, confers preference on a substantial proportion of cotton goods exported to India from this country.1497 I ought perhaps to explain that under the proposals now before the Indian Legislative Assembly, as I understand them, the duty on British plain grey goods is not to be one of 20 per cent. in all cases but one of 15 per cent. or 3½ annas per pound, whichever is the greater.
§ Mr. HAMMERSLEYAre we to understand that, in face of an alteration of the proposal on behalf of the Indian Legislature, the Government are not even going to make representations when the alteration is of a vital character which affects the livelihood of hundreds of thousands of workers in this country?
§ Mr. GILLETTThe hon. Member will, no doubt, have seen from the papers today that representations have already been made by the Government. When this telegram came to us, the decision of the Indian Government had already been made, and it therefore seems to us that the wisest course is to fall in with their ideas, and to obtain what advantages are already to be obtained, and will be obtained, under this proposal, after the amendment has been accepted, rather than to risk the whole lot by asking for a reconsideration of the matter.
§ Mr. HAMMERSLEYAre we to understand that, whatever the alterations are, however inimical they are to the largest exporting trade of this country, however bad they may be for this great industry, the Government are not prepared to make any representations?
§ Mr. GILLETTThe hon. Member is to understand nothing of the sort. We have made the fullest possible representations. We have the very best reasons for thinking that the course we are now following is the wisest, and in the best interests of the industry.
Earl WINTERTONCan the hon. Gentleman clarify his statement to this extent? He spoke of the decision having been made, but I understood him to say earlier that the Bill had not yet been introduced in the Assembly; and how can the Government, therefore, have taken a decision before there has actually been discussion of the matter?
§ Mr. GILLETTThe Bill has already been introduced in the Assembly, and I understand that there has been some discussion 1498 on it. The Noble Lord will have seen from the papers to-day that the Amendment which is being accepted was discussed a day or two ago.
§ Mr. COMPTONWill my hon. Friend represent to the Manchester Chamber of Commerce that the City of Manchester has 10 Members here, and none of us has had any notification of this telegram, which savours of political purposes?
§ Mr. HAMMERSLEYMay I press the hon. Gentleman further on this particular point? The question arises, not out of the original proposal, but in respect of an amendment, and the question I am asking is whether, on that amendment, however deleterious it would be to our greatest exporting trade, however inimical it would be to their interests, no protest and no representations are to be made?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat question has already been answered.