§ 63. Mr. MANDERasked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is the policy of the Government to urge the members of the League of Nations to carry out immediately the unanimous resolution of the Economic Conference of the League of Nations in 1927 that the time had come to reduce tariffs; and what steps are being taken in the matter?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANAs I informed my hon. Friend on Tuesday last, His Majesty's Government will take advantage of any opportunity for securing reductions in foreign customs tariffs. I doubt, however, whether a general request to members of the League of Nations to reduce their tariffs would serve any useful purpose at present.
§ Mr. HANNONWill the right hon. Gentleman state whether a single reduction in any tariff of any European country has taken place since the proposal was made at the Economic Conference at Geneva?
§ Mr. MANDERIn view of the prominent part that my right hon. Friend played at that conference, does he not think it desirable to take some general initiative in the matter?