§ 45. Sir B. PETOasked the Prime Minister whether, as the United States insist on payment of the instalment of debt and interest duo on 15th December 1609 from Great Britain, the Government will denounce any treaties that interfere and so arrange our tariffs on the major items of the United States exports to this country as to enable us to transfer this trade to Canada and other parts of the Empire; and whether the Government will utilise the visit of Mr. Bennett to this country to arrange terms of a barter trade agreement with Canada for the substitution of Canadian wheat for United States wheat in our markets?
§ The LORD PRESIDENT of the COUNCIL (Mr. Baldwin)I would refer my hon. Friend to paragraphs 19 and 20 of the British Note of 1st December to the United States Government, to which I have nothing to add. As regards the second part of the question, I am not sure that I understand exactly what sort of agreement my hon. Friend has in mind, but I would remind him that under the Ottawa Agreements, Canadian wheat now enjoys a preference of 2s. per quarter over foreign wheat.
§ Sir B. PETOWill the right hon. Gentleman take advantage of Mr. Bennett's visit to this country to enter into negotiations which will result in a transfer of purchases from United States of wheat to the Canadian farmer?