§ 17. Mr. CHARLES WILLIAMSasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs to what extent Canada has adopted a measure of control over imports from the Soviet Union?
Mr. THOMASI understand that by Order in Council, dated 27th February, 1931, His Majesty's Government in Canada prohibited the importation, direct or indirect, into that Dominion of coal, wood pulp, pulpwood, lumber and timber of all kinds, asbestos and furs from the Soviet Union.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSCan the right hon. Gentleman give us any reason why this action has been taken?
Mr. THOMASIt would be looked upon as entirely outside my province that I should ascertain from the Dominions why they did a certain thing, and I certainly do not intend to ask them.
§ Mr. MARJORIBANKSIs not the right hon. Gentleman allowed to give any assistance to this country?
§ 21. Sir K. WOODasked the President of the Board of Trade if he has yet any information with regard to the treaty between Italy and Russia for the interchange of commodities?
§ 25. Mr. LAWTHERasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a new commercial agreement between Soviet Russia and Italy was recently signed in Rome; whether he is aware that this agreement will grant better credits for Russo-Italian trade than heretofore; and whether he can give any additional information to the House on the subject?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. William Graham)A translation of this agreement as appearing in the Soviet Press has 189 reached my Department through the Foreign Office to-day, and will appear in the issue of the Board of Trade Journal for this week.
§ Sir K. WOODIs that not a very unsatisfactory method of obtaining important information of this kind, and cannot the President of the Board of Trade hurry up or increase his Intelligence Department without having to get it through some Russian translation?
§ Mr. GRAHAMWe get this just as soon in completed form as it is available. As regards the Intelligence Department, I think that the replies to these questions are a tribute to its skill.
§ Mr. R. A. TAYLORMay I ask whether this agreement enables the Italian Government to give any preference to British manufacturers?
§ 19. Mr. SMITHERSasked the President of the Board of Trade the quantity of chocolate and sugar Easter eggs imported into this country from Soviet Russia during the months of February and March; and can he state the prices at which these and similar articles of British manufacture were retailed?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMStatistics of the imports of chocolate and sugar Easter eggs are not available, these goods not being separately recorded in the trade returns of the United Kingdom. I regret that I have no information in regard to the latter part of the question.
§ Mr. SMITHERSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that large quantities of these goods have been dumped into this country, to the detriment of British traders?
§ Mr. GRAHAMI have seen statements to that effect. The imports of this confectionery have increased, but whether they have been dumped or not I should not like to say this afternoon.