§ 42. Mr. A. M. SAMUELasked the President of the Board of Trade whether it was arranged at the Geneva tariff conference last week to include a provision that Austria should not proceed with negotiations to impose import tariffs against Great Britain and other countries after the flotation in London of the suggested loan required to assist Austria to develop her industries?
§ Mr. GILLETTThe answer is in the negative.
§ Mr. SAMUELAre we to understand that no arrangement has been made under which steps will be taken to see that we do not supply the money here to develop Austrian industries, and then find a state of affairs in which Austria, having obtained our money to set up her industries, puts on a tariff to protect herself against our manufactures?
§ Mr. GILLETTWe have really no information on this matter.
§ Mr. SAMUELBut the question of this loan to Austria was raised in the House the other day.
§ Captain P. MACDONALDIs it not a fact that the decisions of this conference are wholly innocuous in so far as Great Britain is concerned? And is it not a waste of time and expenditure for the President of the Board of Trade to attend conferences of this nature?