§ 60. Air-Commodore Harveyasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is now in a position to make a statement regarding the future trade arrangements between this country and Japan.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade (Mr. Belcher)I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Leek (Mr. Harold Davies) on 12th June. I would add that advice and information on the procedure for trading with Japan is now being published from time to time in the Board of Trade Journal, and I am sending the hon. and gallant Member a copy of a recent notice.
§ Air-Commodore HarveyIs not the hon. Gentleman aware that in spite of that, the arrangements as they exist now are most unsatisfactory? Is he further aware that British prestige in Japan is extremely low; and would he consult his colleagues and have instructions sent out to British officials to show more tenacity when dealing with the Americans in that country?
§ Mr. BelcherAs far as present conditions are concerned, I can only say that negotiations are proceeding at this moment in Washington, and I hope that as a result of those negotiations conditions will eventually be satisfactory.
§ Mr. Walter FletcherWill the hon. Member pay particular attention to seeing that the manipulation, on a day-today basis, of currency in Japan is not used as a weapon against this country, as has been reported?