§ 27. Mr. CROSSasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that Unilever, Limited, import a great proportion of their raw materials from the British West African Colonies and enjoy protection for their manufactured products in the homo market, and that a company under the control of Unilever, Limited, import Japanese and Russian cotton goods into the West African colonies; and whether, in these circumstances, he will consider what steps should be taken to put an end to this practice?
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLEI am aware of the position as stated in the first part of the question. As regards the second part, the question of the imports of Japanese goods into these territories is under consideration while as regards imports from Russia I would refer to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary for the Dominions on the 14th March to the hon. Member for Chatham (Sir P. Goff).
§ Mr. CROSSCan my hon. and gallant Friend say whether there has been a considerable increase in the export of Japanese goods to ports on the west coast of Africa?
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLEYes, it would appear to be so.
§ Mr. CROSSWill it be unreasonable to suppose that the United Africa Company or other subsidiaries of Unilever, Limited, have been responsible?
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLEI can give no positive information on that point. My hon. Friend must draw his own conclusions.