HC Deb 14 April 1948 vol 449 cc962-3
30. Mr. Hollis

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why instructions have been given to the governments of East African Colonies to give trade preference to goods from Europe over those from the Dominions.

31. Mr. Prescott

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if his attention has been directed to the widespread concern in Australia over the proposal to give trade preferences in East African Colonies to Italy and Germany; and if he will make a statement.

32. Mr. Platts-Mills

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the instructions given by his Department to the East African Colonies to give Italy, Germany, France, Belgium and Holland trade preference over the Dominions, has aroused widespread anxiety; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy the position.

36. Mr. J. H. Hare

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why he has issued instructions which have had the effect of giving Italy preference over the Dominions in trading with the East African Colonies.

Mr. McNeil

The East African Governments have not been asked to give a general trade preference to goods from Europe over those from the Dominions. They are free to authorise essential imports from all sources, including, naturally, the Commonwealth countries. They have been asked, however, in common with all countries inside the sterling group, to limit the imports of non-essential goods, and under these arrangements they can bring in such imports from the war-shattered countries of Europe, as well as from other Colonial Territories and from the United Kingdom, rather more freely than from the rest of the world. My right hon. Friend is reviewing the extent to which it is still appropriate for Colonial Governments to continue these special arrangements.

Mr. Hollis

Do I understand that they have not been asked to give any preference at all for goods from Europe over goods from the Dominions, as that was not clear from the answer?

Mr. McNeil

I would be prepared to say that, as I understand the subject in the Questions, on non-essential goods there is a certain laxity by which licensing might benefit some countries, including the war shattered countries of Europe, but not particularly Germany; but these would only have equal treatment with, for example, the United Kingdom.

Mr. Hare

Does that mean that at the moment countries like Italy, France, Belgium and Holland are being given preference over our own Dominion territories?

Mr. McNeil

I am scarcely an expert in this subject, but I understand that would be an enormous simplification of the question. In relation to essential commodities, that would not be true, but in relation to non-essential commodities, it might be true.

Mr. Oliver Stanley

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that some weeks ago I took up this matter with the Colonial Secretary, and was assured that there had been some misunderstanding about the instructions, and that those instructions either had been, or were being, withdrawn?

Mr. McNeil

As I have indicated, I think there has been a misinterpretation of these instructions, and the Press reports which have been given some currency, are not accurate. There is a sense in which in relation to non-essential imports it might be so, but my right hon. Friend is reviewing even these instructions which relate to non-essential imports.

Mr. Stanley

It is not a fact, then, that they have already been withdrawn?

Mr. McNeil

Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will be so good as to give notice of that question.