35. Duchess of ATHOLLasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether His Majesty's Government in Canada have been invited to say whether in their opinion Article 2 of the proposed trade agreement with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics will enable His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom to take effective action, if necessary, to implement the clause in the Ottawa Agreement which requires action to be taken against any state-aided dumping in the British market which is frustrating the value of a preference given to Canada?
The SECRETARY of STATE for DOMINION AFFAIRS (Mr. J. H. Thomas)It is for His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom to be satisfied that the provisions of the Anglo-Soviet Agreement are such as to enable them to carry out the obligations arising out of the Agreement with Canada entered into at Ottawa. They have no doubt that the provisions of the Article 1100 referred to by the hon. Member do in fact have this result. His Majesty's Government in Canada were, however, kept informed from time to time of the progress of the negotiations with the Soviet Union with special reference to the Article in question.
Duchess of ATHOLLMay we take it that His Majesty's Government in Canada think the proposal that the Government should not be able to take action for three months in regard to dumped imports is at all satisfactory?
Mr. THOMASNo, I should assume that His Majesty's Government in Canada appreciate our care in seeing that there was no violation of the Ottawa Agreement.