HC Deb 14 November 1949 vol 469 cc1682-4
56. Mr. Paton

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will give the particulars of the treaty or agreement of the Allied Powers which confers upon the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers in Japan the authority to take decisions abolishing price controls on Japanese exports without obtaining the prior consent of the Allied Powers.

Mr. Mayhew

The Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers has wide discretionary powers to deal with matters not specifically covered by Far Eastern policy decisions. The original decision to impose "floor" prices was not a Far Eastern Commission decision, and it was within the discretion of the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers to abolish it.

Mr. Paton

Are the Government satisfied, concerning decisions of this kind which may have the most far-reaching consequences on British trade and on the trade of all the countries of the West, that the Allied Supreme Commander has the right himself to take such decisions without consultation?

Mr. Mayhew

I think it is a fact that the Supreme Commander was fully within his rights in taking this decision. I would add that, so far as I can see, British interests were in no way prejudiced by his decision.

Air-Commodore Harvey

Does the British Government ever take the opportunity of impressing upon the American Government and on General MacArthur the contribution made by British men in Burma?

Mr. Paton

Will my hon. Friend address himself to the question I asked him, and indicate which treaty or agreement of the Allied Powers conferred this authority upon the Supreme Commander?

Mr. Mayhew

The rights of the Supreme Commander are limited by the directives which can be given to him by the Far Eastern Commission. The Far Eastern Commission is not in a position to give directives to the Supreme Commander, nor has it given them, on this point. Until it did give such directives, he would be free to act on his own initiative.

Mr. Eden

This is news to many of us, and it is very important. Can these directives be studied anywhere? Are they available to us for examination, and can the powers of the Supreme Commander be examined? Cannot the Government, if necessary, take the initiative to call together this other body which apparently has some power of issuing directives?

Mr. Mayhew

The powers of the Far Eastern Commission are well known, and they are surely known to the right hon. Gentleman. If he wishes, I will explain them, if a Question is put down, but nothing new whatever has been said on this matter.

Mr. Eden

I beg the hon. Gentleman's pardon. I do not want to know what the powers of the Far Eastern Commission are, but what are the rights of the Supreme Commander, and, if the powers of the Commission are not sufficient to deal with this situation, if the Government cannot take the initiative to try to put the matter right.

Mr. Mayhew

I do not say that the powers would not extend to a matter like that. I merely said that the Commission has not given a directive to the Supreme Commander, and that, until it does, he has power to act on his own initiative.

Mr. S. Silverman

Can my hon. Friend say whether he consulted the leaders of the textile industry in this country, either on the industrial side or on the workers' side, before he came to the conclusion that the removal of these controls of export prices had no disadvantageous bearing upon the trade of this country?

Mr. Mayhew

I must refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade. On the question of consultation with the business men in this country, I am informed that this decision is not regarded as adverse to British business interests.

Mr. W. Fletcher

Did the hon. Gentleman ever take any steps to bring any pressure to bear to protect British interests in this matter, in view of the fact that on two occasions representatives went to Japan well briefed about the dangerous situation for the textile industry that was growing up?

Mr. Mayhew

That is not a question for me.

Mr. Harold Davies

Is my hon. Friend aware that the peremptory manner in which these decisions are taken by the Supreme Commander is affecting British business, and that both sides of the House are perturbed at the consequences of these decisions to the British textile industry?