HC Deb 22 January 1948 vol 446 cc349-50
4 and 5. Sir Richard Acland

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he will arrange that the first ship bearing grain from the U.S.S.R. is met, on its arrival, in a way which will manifest the satisfaction which is felt at the conclusion of the present agreement and the hopes for wider agreements to come;

(2) whether he will invite the responsible authorities of the U.S.S.R. to send on board the first ship bearing grain to this country a representative delegation of Soviet citizens who might be entertained, inter alia, at some of the factories likely to be involved in making the goods which we shall send in return.

The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Harold Wilson)

His Majesty's Government have already given abundant proof of their satisfaction at the conclusion of the agreement and also of their desire to promote friendship by visits of the kind suggested, but I do not see any reason why these shipments of grain should receive a special official welcome not given to shipments from our friends in the British Commonwealth and from other countries.

Vice-Admiral Taylor

Would it not be much more appropriate to express approval and satisfaction when ships arrive with grain from countries within the Empire, which are our real Allies?

Commander Noble

Could the Minister say whether the 12 wives could be sent in this ship?

Mr. Beswick

Would my hon. Friend agree that in those cases there has not been all the anti-propaganda such as the Soviet Union have had to face, and therefore that the suggestions embodied in these two Questions would be most useful?

Mr. Wilson

This agreement is a trade and not a political agreement. I think we have to treat the arrival of this grain, which we greatly welcome, in the same way as we treat the arrival of food from other countries.