§ 22. Mr. Parkerasked the Minister of Economic Warfare whether the recently 1128 concluded trade agreement between Great Britain, France and Belgium authorises Belgium to maintain her re-exports to Germany on their pre-war level?
§ Mr. CrossI regret that it is not in the public interest to give any information about the agreements of this kind which have been concluded by His Majesty's Government since the war began. For obvious reasons the neutral Governments concerned attach the greatest importance to their terms being kept confidential, and we shall be seriously handicapped in future negotiations if there is any doubt on this point. I fear, therefore, that I must ask the House not to press me for information about these agreements. But I can assure the hon. Member that His Majesty's Government have been fully alive to the importance of the point to which he has drawn attention.