§ 84. Mr. HAMMERSLEYasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement explaining the policy of the Government in adhering to the Anglo-Japanese Trading Agreement?
§ Lieut.-Colonel J. COLVILLEIt is not the policy of the Government to denounce a commercial treaty with any country unless they are satisfied that the resulting advantages to British trade as a whole outweigh the disadvantages.
§ Mr. HAMMERSLEYIs it not a fact that this question of Japanese competition cannot effectively be dealt with unless there are powers to discriminate against Japan and, as the Anglo-Japanese Trading Agreement prevents such discrimination, what policy is to be adopted to deal with this competition unless the treaty is abrogated?
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLEMy hon. Friend is thinking of competition in the Colonies. He will be aware that the 1178 Colonies can free themselves from the Japanese Treaty independently on one year's notice without the necessity of denouncing the whole treaty. The whole question is under careful consideration, but I cannot add to the answer which I originally gave.