International Commodity Groups (Hansard, 6 February 1951)

§ 59. Mr. Edelman
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the proposed international commodity groups will have consumer and producer as well as governmental representation.

§ Mr. Gaitskell
No, Sir. Governments alone will be represented on the proposed international commodity groups.

§ Mr. Edelman
Will my right hon. Friend at least keep in close touch with industrial consumers in this country who are getting rather impatient at the slow progress of these negotiations?

§ Mr. Gaitskell
Yes, Sir, certainty.

§ Mr. S. Silverman
Will all Governments be invited to take part?

§ Mr. Gaitskell
No, Sir, only the Governments which are the principal producers and consumers.

§ Mr. Silverman
May I ask my right hon. Friend whether it is intended to be a contribution to easing the tensions of the world and a contribution to the maintenance of peace to deny large parts of the world access to raw materials?

§ Mr. Gaitskell
That is quite another question.