§ 30. Mr. LEWISasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will consider the advisability of taking steps to exclude entirely from our coastal trade the vessels of France, Greece, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Turkey, Japan, the United States of America, Argentina, Brazil, and Chile until such time as these countries allow our ships to take part in their coastal trade?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI have nothing to add to the reply made to my hon. Friend's question of 1st December last.
§ Mr. LEWISWhat alternative method has the right hon. Gentleman to suggest in order to secure a share of this coastal trade for British ships?
§ Mr. HANNONDoes the right hon. Gentleman say that our policy is to continue to give our coastal trade to foreign countries without exacting any compensation from them in the way of part of their coastal trade?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI think my hon. Friend is over estimating the amount of the coastal trade held by foreign countries.
§ Captain PETER MACDONALDIs it not a fact that a great deal of the coastal trade is lost to this country by the 199 restrictions imposed by foreign countries on our shipping industry? Does my right hon. Friend not think that reciprocal restrictions should be adopted by this country?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANYes, that is quite true, but the reply to that is not to exclude them from sharing in the coastal traffic here.
§ 31. Captain P. MACDONALDasked the President of the Board of Trade which, if any, of the principal maritime countries of the world prohibit any vessels other than those flying their own flags from engaging in coastal traffic?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which I gave on the 17th November in answer to a similar question by my hon. Friend the Member for Colchester (Mr. Lewis), of which I am sending him a copy.