§ 24. Mr. SMITHERSasked the President of the Board of Trade the amount of the exports and imports of cotton into and out of Soviet Russia for the years 1927, 1928, 1929, and 1930, respcetively?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMDuring the years ended September, 1927, 1928 and 1929 and the nine months ended June, 1930, the total imports of raw cotton over all frontiers into the Soviet Union amounted according to the official Russian statistics to 358,000,000 lbs., 320,000,000 lbs., 271,000,000 lbs., and 104,000,000 lbs., respectively. Similar information in respect of exports is not available except for the nine months ended June, 1930, during which period the total exports of raw cotton amounted to 11,500,000 lbs.
§ Mr. SMITHERSAre the pounds referred to pounds sterling?
§ Mr. GRAHAMPounds weight.
§ 30. Mr. A. M. SAMUELasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the export of Russian cotton goods which is being carried out in a manner contrary to the assurances given by the head of the Russian Trade Delegation on their visit to Manchester a few months ago and whether he will make representations to the Soviet Government on this subject?
§ Mr. GRAHAMI am not aware of any failure on the part of the Soviet Government to carry out the undertakings they have entered into in this matter.
§ Mr. SAMUELDid not the right hon. Gentleman receive a representation from the Manchester Chamber of Commerce in which there is a statement that the 1609 cotton trade is being injured by the Russian Government's method of exporting cotton goods?
§ Mr. GRAHAMYes, I think there have been representations; but the point here is an undertaking not to sell cotton goods either in this country or in any part of the British Empire, and my information is that that undertaking has not been violated.
§ Mr. SAMUELBut is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Manchester Chamber of Commerce say that the spirit of the agreement has been violated?
§ Mr. GRAHAMIn that case, I could not reply to the supplementary question by going into details as between the spirit and the practice. I can only report on the facts.
§ 35. Commander BELLAIRSasked the President of the Board of Trade in view of the fact that the Government of Soviet Russia as the sole trading organisation exercises the power of prohibiting imports in any particular trade, whether he will seek power by Order in Council to prohibit imports from Russia or to subject them to a licence system as in France; and whether any existing agreements stand in the way of the exercise of such powers?
§ Mr. GRAHAMHis Majesty's Government are not prepared to introduce legislation such as that suggested by the hon. and gallant Member. Under the Temporary Commercial Agreement between His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and the Soviet Government it is provided that the natural produce and manufactures of each country shall enjoy in the other all the facilities, rights and privileges accorded to the natural produce and manufactures of any other foreign country.
§ Commander BELLAIRSHow long would it take to denounce this Treaty?
§ Mr. GRAHAMSpeaking from memory, I believe that six months' notice is required.