§ 57. Mr. HALL-CAINEasked the President of the Board of Trade the period of notice which must be given to denounce any of the commercial treaties which already exist between Great Britain and 36 other countries; and whether it is contemplated to take an early opportunity of denouncing any of them, and, if so, which, in view of further fiscal proposals by Great Britain in the coming year?
§ Major COLVILLEI am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table giving particulars with regard to termination in the case of each of the treaties and other similar arrangements which provide for the mutual accord of most-favoured-nation treatment in regard to Customs duties. These treaties number 42 in all. The period of notice which is necessary is not the same in every case. As regards the second part of the question, the international obligations of this country in the matter of trade and commerce represent one aspect of the question of the trade balance which is under review by the Government.
§ Mr. HALL-CAINECan my hon. and gallant Friend say whether any treaties have yet been denounced?
§ Major COLVILLENo treaty has yet been denounced. The matter is under review.
§ Following is the table:
§ TABLE showing the Countries with which Commercial Treaties and similar arrangements providing for the mutual accord of Most-favourednation Treatment in regard to Customs Duties have been concluded by this Country, and the required particulars with regard to termination.
§ Country and when Terminable.
- Albania—At any time on three months' notice.
- Argentina—No provision for termination. Austria—11th February, 1935, or thereafter, on 12 months' notice.
- Belgium—At any time on three months' notice.
- Bolivia—At any time on 12 months' notice.
§ Country and when Terminable.
- Brazil—11th September, 1934, or thereafter on six months' notice.
- Bulgaria—At any time on three months' notice.
- Chile—At any time on 15 days' notice.
- China—No provision for termination.
- Colombia—At any time on 12 months' notice.
- Czechoslovakia—At any time on 12 months' notice.
- Denmark—No provision for termination.
- Egypt—16th February, 1932.
- Estonia—At any time on 12 months' notice.
- Finland—At any time on six months' notice.
- Germany—At any time on 12 months' notice.
- Greece—At any time on 12 months' notice.
- Guatemala—At any time on 12 months' notice.
- Hayti—At any time on six months' notice.
- Hungary—26th July, 1937, or thereafter, on 12 months' notice.
- Italy—At any time on 12 months' notice.
- Japan—29th July, 1932, or thereafter, on 12 months' notice.
- Latvia—At any time on 12 months' notice.
- Lithuania—At any time on three months' notice.
- Netherlands—At any time on 12 months' notice.
- Nicaragua—At any time on 12 months' notice.
- Norway—At any time on 12 months' notice.
- Panama—8th April, 1939, or thereafter, on 12 months' notice.
- Persia—Provisionally in force. If and when ratified it will be possible to terminate the Treaty on 10th May, 1936, or thereafter, on six months' notice.
- Poland—At any time on three months' notice.
- Portugal—At any time on 12 months' notice.
- *Rumania—12th May, 1934, or thereafter, on six months' notice.
- Salvador—15th September, 1932, unless previously rejected by the Salvadorean Legislative Assembly.
- Siam—30th May, 1936, or thereafter, on 12 months' notice.
§ Country and when Terminable.
- Spain—At any time on three months' notice.
- Sweden—At any time on 12 months' notice.
- Switzerland—At any time on 12 months' notice.
- Turkey—3rd September, 1935, or thereafter, on 12 months' notice.
- Union of Soviet Socialist Republics—
- At any time on six months' notice.
- United States—At any time on 12 months' notice.
- Venezuela—No provision for termination.
- Yugoslavia—9th February, 1933, or thereafter, on 12 months' notice.
§ *May be terminated by Rumania at any time after 12th May, 1932, on six months' notice in the event of duties being imposed in the United Kingdom on Rumanian agricultural products.