§ 31. Mr. Pethick-Lawrenceasked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he proposes to take to safeguard the position of British exporters who have 1186 supplied goods to Poland; and whether, in the interest of maintaining the effective organisation of the firms concerned for the sake of the export trade, he will make available for the liquidation of Polish commercial debts any balances due in respect of imports to this country from Poland?
§ Mr. StanleyWhile I recognise the hardship of the position of exporters to whom money is owed from Poland, and have carefully considered the suggestion made by the right hon. Member, it would involve undue interference with the rights of Polish creditors. Moreover, it would not be practicable to make a distribution which would be equitable among the various claimants.
§ Mr. Pethick-LawrenceCan the right hon. Gentleman hold out no hope of getting rid of these balances, which are causing very great difficulty and em- barrassment in certain sections of the trade?
§ Mr. StanleyI would not like to say that I can hold out no hope. We are looking into the problem, but the right hon. Gentleman will realise the extraordinary difficulties of it, in view of the position of Poland to-day.