HC Deb 26 March 1930 vol 237 cc394-5
3. Mr. ARTHUR MICHAEL SAMUEL

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is now in a position to make a short statement giving the result of the recent representations to the Portuguese Government by His Majesty's Ambassador at Lisbon on the question of flag discrimination so far as it is operated by the Portuguese Governrnent against British goods and shipping?

Mr. A. HENDERSON

I am not yet in a position to make any statement as to the result of the representations which His Majesty's Ambassador was instructed last month to make to the Portuguese Government on this subject.

Mr. SAMUEL

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is a clog on British export trade, and is it right to let the matter go on like this?

Mr. HENDERSON

The hon. Member must know that we cannot force the hands of Governments with whom we are in relations. All that I can do is to make representations, which I did, as I stated in answer to a question last month.

Mr. SAMUEL

If the Portuguese Government put this clog on our export trade, would it not be possible to hint to them quite discreetly that we could put a duty on their port wine?

Mr. HENDERSON

I am not sure how far that sort of policy of retaliation would carry us.

Mr. CHARLES WILLIAMS

Have not the Government to be very careful in their dealings with the Portuguese at present?