§ 9. Sir K. WOODasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can now make a further statement as to the replies he has now received to the communications he has made to various countries suggesting a reduction of tariffs; and if he can now indicate the purport of the reply he has received from the French Government?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMThe replies received from the foreign Governments concerned have not indicated fully the extent to which they are prepared to meet the proposals of His Majesty's Government for tariff reductions and further inquiries are therefore being made to this end, but it is obviously undesirable to indicate at this stage the nature of the confidential communications which are passing.
§ Sir K. WOODThe right hon. Gentleman does not appear to be getting on very well, does he?
§ Mr. GRAHAMOn the contrary, I think that useful progress has been made.
§ Mr. HANNONWould it not be better to abandon this scheme altogether?
§ Mr. GRAHAMI should consider this effort justified if it did nothing more than prevent an upward movement in European tariffs.
§ Mr. BENSONWill the right hon. Gentleman continue to press forward this highly important policy?
§ Mr. GRAHAMYes. That is certainly the intention of the Government.