HC Deb 05 May 1936 vol 311 cc1499-501
10. Major PROCTER

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is yet in a position to state what action the Government propose i o take with regard to the renewal or non-renewal of the trade agreement with the Argentine Republic?

19. Mr. LAMBERT

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he proposes to take, if the negotiations for a new agreement fail, to prevent the Anglo-Argentine Trade Agreement from continuing in force after October next?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

The informal discussions with the Argentine Government are still proceeding, and I am unable at the moment to add to I he replies already given on this subject.

Mr. LAMBERT

Would the right hon. Gentleman kindly answer Question 19, as to what action he proposes to take, if the negotiations for a new agreement fail, to prevent the Anglo-Argentine Trade Agreement from continuing in force after October next? Could we have a clear answer on that point?

Mr. THURTLE

On a point of Order. May I submit to you, Mr. Speaker, as a matter of Order, that Question No. 19 is essentially a hypothetical one, and, therefore, not a proper one to be on the Paper?

Mr. SPEAKER

There is an "if" in it.

Mr. RUNCIMAN

There is in the agreement itself provision for notice being given for the termination of the agreement. That is a matter that is naturally very much in our mind at present.

Mr. LAMBERT

Has that notice been given and, if it is not given, will not the agreement continue after October?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

I cannot say that notice has been given, because it is not due to be given until to-morrow.

Mr. SHINWELL

Will the right hon. Gentleman resist the demands from the opposite benches for the denunciation of an agreement which, if it is denounced, may have serious effects on many industries?

Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND-TROYTE

Is notice going to be given to-morrow? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the agricultural industry is expecting such notice to be given and that, in its view, the Government will not be carrying out its pledges until it is given?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

The hon. and gallant Gentleman is making some assumptions which are not justified. We are quite capable of holding our own in negotiations with that country, and we are certainly keeping in mind—in their mind as well as our own—the fact that denunciation may take effect as from to-morrow.

Major PROCTER

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us that, in the event of this agreement being renewed, Lancashire will have a fairer field than it had under the last agreement?