HC Deb 27 October 1947 vol 443 cc495-7
33. Air-Commodore Harvey

asked the Minister of Food what is the progress of negotiations with the Danish Government with regard to food supplies.

77. Mr. Lipson

asked the Minister of Food if negotiations are being resumed for the purchase of butter and other essential foods from Denmark.

The Minister of Food (Mr. Strachey)

I cannot add anything to the statement which was issued when the recent negotiations in London came to an end. That statement is rather long, and, with permission, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Air-Commodore Harvey

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that since that statement was made the Danes have disposed of their next six months' production of butter, amounting to 24,000 tons, including 12,000 tons to Russia, and 5,000 tons to other countries? Why are we so behind in getting what is available in order to feed our people?

Mr. Strachey

I am not aware of those alleged facts. The Danes sold less butter this year to Russia and other destinations than last, and I would warn the hon. and gallant Member about accepting at face value statements naturally put out by the Danish Government in the course of the negotiations.

Mr. J. S. C. Reid

Will the right hon. Gentleman make it quite clear that he is not imputing to the Danish Government a lack of veracity—the most unusual imputation to make against a friendly Government?

Mr. Strachey

Certainly. I am merely imputing that, the statements made by the Danish Government in the course of the negotiations gave their side of the case. There is a British side to the case in these negotiations, which Members opposite show an extraordinary tendency to overlook.

Mr. Eden

This is a matter of some importance. Nobody on either side of the House wants to overlook the, British case, but if the right hon. Gentleman claims that the Danish Government, in stating their case, have misstated the facts, would he tell us in what respect those facts have been misstated?

Mr. Strachey

The Danish Government put out a statement that they had sold a certain quantity of butter to Russia, which is true, but at once it was assumed here that that meant that no butter was left to sell to this country. As a matter of fact, the quantity sold to Russia was less than last year.

Mr. Reid

Would the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Danes were asking for payment in dollars, or were willing to accept unconvertible sterling?

Mr. Strachey

In which transactions?

Mr. Reid

In the further negotiations, which broke down.

Mr. Strachey

These are complicated negotiations, and I think it would be unwise for me to enter into details. We have real hopes that, by one means or another, we shall be able to resume our trading relations and purchases with the Danes, but we are not willing to pay them, at present, prices which, for one thing, would be grossly unfair to our own Dominion suppliers.

Following is the statement:

Representatives of the Danish Government have been discussing in London with representatives of the interested Departments, the basis on which the food agreements relating to butter, eggs and bacon might be renewed, and certain other questions relating to financial and trade relations between the two countries. It was not, however, possible to find a method of overcoming the difficulties arising from the wide discrepancy between the prices asked for Danish bacon and butter and those which the United Kingdom authorities felt able to offer. In these circumstances, the two delegations agreed that they would have to report to their respective Governments. It is hoped to resume the discussions at the earliest opportunity.