HC Deb 22 March 1939 vol 345 cc1263-4
62. Colonel Nathan

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action on the part of His Majesty's Government is contemplated by the projected agreement between British and German industrialists; and whether or not it is the policy of His Majesty's Government that the matter should proceed?

63. Mr. Neil Maclean

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the Anglo- German Trade Agreement, signed last week by delegations of the Federation of British Industries and the Reichsgruppe Industrie; and whether, as this agreement is a contravention of the Anglo-American Trade Agreement, he will consider cancelling the Anglo-German Trade Agreement as contrary to the public policy of this country?

Mr. Cross

I would refer to the reply given yesterday by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Members for Kingswinford (Mr. A. Henderson), Seaham (Mr. Shinwell), and Pontypool (Mr. Jenkins).

Colonel Nathan

Is the hon. Member able to state what is the policy of His Majesty's Government in this matter, as asked in the second part of my question?

Mr. Cross

The whole matter is under the consideration of my right hon. Friend at the present time, and he is meeting representatives of the Federation of British Industries this afternoon.

Colonel Nathan

If I put down another question on this subject in a week's time, will the hon. Gentleman then be able to state the policy of His Majesty's Government in this particular matter?

Mr. Cross

I cannot give the hon. and gallant Member a definite answer, but if he will put a question down, he will get an answer.

Mr. G. Strauss

Are negotiations proceeding in Germany at the moment, and, if so, is it with the approval of His Majesty's Government?

Mr. Cross

I cannot tell the hon. Member whether negotiations are proceeding between a particular British industry, which I think is the point of his question, and its opposite number in Germany at present—I should require notice of that question—but as he is aware, discussions between the Reichsgruppe Industrie and the Federation of British Industries have been completed.