§ 31. Sir NICHOLAS GRATTAN-DOYLEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the unsatisfactory conditions in which British trade is conducted with Spain; will he now request the Spanish Government to 1336 cancel the Anglo-Spanish Treaty of 1922, so that it may be replaced with a new commercial agreement more consonant with British requirements or, alternatively, will he ask the Spanish Government to accept a proposal for an Anglo-Spanish exchange clearing for the purpose of arriving at an equilibrium in purchases by Spain of British goods in comparison with purchases by Britain of Spanish productions?
§ Lieut.-Colonel J. COLVILLE (Secretary, Overseas Trade Department)I am unable to add to the replies which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Members for Salford South (Mr. Stourton) and the Attercliffe Division (Mr. Pike) on the 5th June.
§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLECan my hon. and gallant Friend say how long this very unsatisfactory state of things is going to continue?
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLEThe question of commercial negotiations with Spain is under consideration, but I would point out in the meantime that our exports to Spain were maintained during the first quarter of this year as compared with the same period of last year.
§ Sir ARTHUR MICHAEL SAMUELIs my hon. and gallant Friend aware that the Spanish Treaty of 1922 is now regarded by all exporters as an entire failure?
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLEI have pointed out that exports in fact have been maintained, but Spanish imports, on the other hand, have dropped off slightly.