§ 33. Sir A. M. SAMUELasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in suitable cases, he will operate Section 5 (1) and Article 21 of the First Schedule of the Ottawa Agreements Act, 1932, to meet the action of the German Government which has created a price for certain German exports by means of the new scrip system under which those exports receive State aid as defined by the above-mentioned Act; and is he aware that the scrip system has brought such German goods, if imported into Great Britain, within the defined prohibitions arising from direct or indirect creation of prices through State action on the part of any foreign country?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANEven if the action of the German Government in this matter could be regarded as bringing German exports within the provisions of Section 5 of the Ottawa Agreements Act, such 723 goods could not be prohibited from importation into this country so long as the Anglo-German Commercial Treaty of 1924 is in force.
§ Sir A. M. SAMUELWhat is the right hon. Gentleman going to do, in view of the fact that this scrip system neutralises the British tariff on the importation of German goods and also undermines British exports to other markets?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI was asked what was the bearing of this on Section 5 of the Ottawa Agreements Act and I have answered that question.
§ Sir A. M. SAMUELBut I have asked the right hon. Gentleman what he proposes to do. Is he aware that the rebate on German exports is an export bounty, and that therefore these goods are dumped goods?