§ 47. Mr. MANDERasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction in the British commercial community at Istanbul with the terms of the recently concluded Anglo-Turkish trading agreement; and 2849 why no arrangement was included to enable the British side to control the value of Turkish exports to England by accepting the offer of the British Chamber of Commerce in Istanbul to visa and register certificates of origin?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Runciman)I am aware that the British Chamber of Commerce of Turkey has expressed disappointment with the recently concluded trade agreement with Turkey on the ground that certain recommendations they put forward were not adopted. I can, however, assure the hon. Member that full consideration was given to all these recommendations, and I have reason to hope that the agreement will prove of benefit to British trade. The particular suggestion to which the hon. Member refers was found on examination to be impracticable.
§ Mr. MANDERWas there not reason to suppose that the agreement might have been incorporated, as there are precedents in other arrangements of the same kind; and is it not very regrettable that this valuable offer was overlooked?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANNo, Sir, I think that we got the best terms we could in the circumstances.