§ 7. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what protest he has had from the Government of New Zealand on the statement made by the Empire Director of the Federation of British Industries respecting our trade relationship with that Dominion in the eventuality of their proceeding with their import-control plans; and will he, in reply, assure the New Zealand Government that this country will do nothing prejudicial to the good relationship existing between Great Britain and New Zealand?
Mr. M. MacDonaldI have received no communication from His Majesty's Government in New Zealand with regard to the statement referred to, and the latter part of the question does not, therefore, arise.
§ Mr. SorensenDoes not the right hon. Gentleman agree that, in his capacity as Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, he should be vitally interested in what, surely, is a most deplorable statement made by the Empire Director and one likely to be most prejudicial to the future relationship of this country and New Zealand; and, further, would he agree that, in fact, this particular statement by 2642 the Director is likely to accelerate the very process of Imperial disintegration to which he referred?
Mr. MacDonaldThe authors of the statement were perfectly within their rights in expressing their views on this matter, and I have yet to learn that either the Government or anyone else in New Zealand regard them as having gone beyond their rights in expressing those opinions.
§ Mr. SorensenDo I take it that the right hon. Gentleman agrees with the sentiments expressed by the Empire Director?
Mr. MacDonaldI did not say anything of the sort, or intend to imply that. I merely said that they were within their rights in stating their own views.
§ Mr. ShinwellDoes not the right hon. Gentleman fully agree that the New Zealand Government have a perfect right to conduct their trade in their own way, without the interference of anybody in this country?
Mr. MacDonaldCertainly, but there are certain agreements between the New Zealand Government and this Government, and the New Zealand Government are just as anxious as we are to pursue these trading matters in a spirit of cooperation. I have no doubt that frankness on both sides will help forward that spirit.
§ Mr. ShinwellIs it not true that the agreements to which the right hon. Gentleman referred have not been violated by the New Zealand Government in a single instance?
Mr. MacDonaldYes, Sir. I have never suggested that they have been violated either in the past or now.
§ Mr. A. HendersonWill the right hon. Gentleman express, on behalf of His Majesty's Government, his disapproval of any attempt being made by financial quarters in this country, to bring pressure to bear on the New Zealand Government because they do not agree with that Government's economic policy?
§ Mr. SorensenMay I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman's interest does not lie far more with the New Zealand Government than with these private concerns?