§ 44. Sir J. Haslamasked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent we are bound by treaty to admit Japanese goods into our Crown Colonies?
Mr. StanleyHis Majesty's Government are not in a position to discriminate between Japanese and United Kingdom goods in the territories to which the Congo Basin Treaties apply, nor in Mandated territories. Discrimination between Japanese goods and the goods of other foreign countries is not possible in other parts of the Colonial Empire so long as the provisions of the Anglo-Japanese Treaty of 1911 apply to them, though this does not prevent the imposition of duties or quotas as long as such measures are applied to all foreign countries.
§ Sir J. HaslamIs it not possible to give notice for the abrogation of the Congo Basin Treaties and the Treaty of 1911 under which English trade is suffering so severely?
Mr. StanleyIt has already been explained in the House that it is not possible to give notice to determine the Congo Basin Treaties, and the Anglo-Japanese Treaty does not prevent the imposition of quotas in the Colonial Empire, provided they are imposed against all foreign goods.
§ Sir J. HaslamAre we to understand that the Congo Basin Treaties are made for ever and can never be abrogated in any possible way?
Mr. StanleyThat is a matter which has often been discussed in the House, and the opinion given by our legal advisers is that they cannot be determined by unilateral action but only by general agreement.
§ Mr. BurkeIs it not possible to get all the signatories of the treaty together? Cannot the right hon. Gentleman take the initiative?
Mr. StanleyIt would of course be possible, but the hon. Member will bear in mind that one of the signatories is Japan.
§ Mr. H. G. WilliamsCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the treaty is 1696 still in operation as between this country and Germany?
Mr. PalignWould not the consumption of British goods in these colonies be much increased, if the purchasing power of the natives was raised?