§ 31. Sir KINGSLEY WOODasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he has yet come to a decision to publish an annual report upon trade conditions in the Soviet Socialist Republics or to issue some publication dealing with trade in that country?
§ Mr. GILLETTI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. 12 and gallant Member for Lewisham East (Sir A. Pownall) on Monday, the 2nd February.
§ Sir K. WOODWhy is the hon. Gentleman so nervous and frightened of dealing with this matter?
§ Mr. GILLETTI think the right hon. Gentleman cannot be aware of the answer I have referred to, because I gave there very definite information.
§ Mr. SMITHERSHas the hon. Gentleman's attention been called to the embargo on imports from Russia by the Canadian Government?
§ 33. Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department what British firms have, up to date, opened branch offices in Soviet Russia; what classes of goods they offer for sale; and what improvement in the British export trade with Russia has taken place during the past three months in those classes of goods?
§ Mr. GILLETTIn reply to the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply returned on 2nd February, to the hon. and gallant Member for the Isle of Wight (Captain P. Macdonald). In reply to the second part of the question, three of the firms concerned deal in material required by the engineering industry, and of the remaining two, one is a mining corporation, and the other a telegraph company. With regard to the third part of the question, the latest statistics available of exports of goods of British manufacture to the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics during the period of three months ended January, 1931, as compared with a similar period ended January, 1930, are as follow:
§ Three months ended January, 1931, £1,533,000.
§ Three months ended January, 1930, £1,128,000.
§ Mr. ARTHUR MICHAEL SAMUELIs the hon. Gentleman aware that we were told by the Socialists that when trade with Russia was re-opened, it would put unemployment right; and is this all the export trade we are doing with Russia?
§ 46. Sir ARTHUR STEEL-MAITLANDasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the obligation imposed on this country by Article 23 (a) of the Covenant of the League of Nations, he will give instructions to the Export Credits Committee to suspend the grant of export credits to Russia until the Soviet Government agrees to an inquiry into the conditions of work in the Russian timber camps?
§ Mr. DALTONI have been asked to reply. My right hon. Friend does not consider that the objects of the Covenant of the League of Nations are likely to be promoted by the particular course of action suggested. I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer given by me to his question on the same subject on Monday last.
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDCan the hon. Gentleman yet suggest any effective action that the Government propose to take to carry out their obligations under the League of Nations Covenant?
§ Mr. DALTONI do not think I can add anything to the very numerous replies to practically identical questions which have been returned on many occasions.
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDCan the hon. Member tell us when we may be able to expect any answer as to how the Government propose to carry out their obligations?
§ Mr. DALTONIt is not admitted on behalf of the Government that they have failed to carry out their obligations.
§ Mr. A. M. SAMUELDoes the hon. Gentleman propose to palter with slavery?
§ Mr. COCKSIs it not the object of the League of Nations to promote good will between nations instead of bad feeling?