§ 42. Mr. HANNONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to certain practices which have resulted from the law of suspension of payments in Cuba and the injury inflicted on British exporters by the operation of this law; and, seeing that under this law debtors are able to make illicit transfer of their assets and so dispose of quantities of British manufactured goods at prices below commercial values, will he state what action, if any, has been taken by the Board of Trade in the matter?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMMy attention has been called to this matter, and I understand that the revision of the law which has given rise to these abuses is now under the consideration of a Cuban Commission.
§ Mr. HANNONCan the right hon. Gentleman give us any indication of when this law will be revised? Are these British creditors whose stocks have been disposed of at knock-out prices, to be sacrificed before the law is revised?
§ Mr. GRAHAMI could not, in reply to a supplementary question, give information on that point, but I assure the hon. Member that I am making additional inquiries, and I hope to be able to give him further details.
§ Mr. HANNONIs not this a very serious matter for these poor people who sent their goods out to Cuba, and will the right hon. Gentleman do whatever he can in the matter?
§ Mr. GRAHAMCertainly; I am well aware that it is serious.