HC Deb 09 June 1932 vol 266 cc2110-2
63. Mr. ROSS

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what additional Customs Duties have recently been imposed upon imports from the United Kingdom by the Irish Free State?

The SECRETARY of STATE for DOMINION AFFAIRS (Mr. J. H. Thomas)

I am sending to my hon. Friend the particulars of the changes in the Irish Free State tariff for which he asks.

Mr. ROSS

Has not this Dominion taken advantage of the period during which we have undertaken not to put on any duties against them to impose very heavy duties against us, and will the right hon. Gentleman bear that fact in mind whenever it may be appropriate to do so in the future?

Mr. THOMAS

I am sure my hon. Friend has conveyed the impression he desires to the House.

Mr. THORNE

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the duties placed upon print affect trades in this country and that they are charging 2d. per copy upon imports into the Free State?

Mr. THOMAS

I am not only aware of, but I deplore, the tendency. The answer to my hon. Friend gives all the list. I myself have received representations from practically every industry complaining of the unfair treatment; but we are a Dominion, and I can do no other than merely convey the fact from one Dominion to another; but equally I can convey to them the advantages that accrue from our policy.

Mr. MAXTON

Was this matter touched on in the friendly talk the right hon. Gentleman had the other evening with Mr. De Valera?

Mr. THOMAS

We never got within a million miles of this.

Earl WINTERTON

Did I understand my right hon. Friend to say in his answer that we are a Dominion? Is the new appellation of His Majesty's Government in Great Britain "a Dominion"?

Mr. THOMAS

My reference to "a Dominion" was that the Irish Free State was a Dominion—[HON. MEMBERS: "No!"]—but let there be no misunderstanding, under the British Commonwealth of Nations that equally applies to us. [HON. MEMBERS: "No!"] My object was to make it clear that this Dominion had the power to do what I think is unfair—it is unfair to our British industrialists—but I made it perfectly clear that that is a matter for which they are responsible.

Earl WINTERTON

This is a very highly important constitutional matter. Is the new official designation of this country "a Dominion"?

Mr. THOMAS

The official designation is that we are all associated in what is called the British Commonwealth of Nations.

Sir A. KNOX

Surely we are not a Dominion!