§ 44. Mr. T. Brownasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will call an international conference to ensure a greater co-operative effort to establish more satisfactory and fairer trading relations between all nations.
§ Mr. H. StraussNo, Sir. While Her Majesty's Government constantly seek to improve trading relations with other countries, my right hon. Friend does not think that the calling of such a conference at present would promote this object effectively.
§ Mr. BrownMay I ask the Parliamentary Secretary whether anything has been done since we interviewed him, together with his right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour, on 13th March? It is now 27th May, and it appears that nothing has been done since that date in March to encourage trade in the Lancashire textile industry.
§ Mr. StraussPerhaps the hon. Gentleman did not hear the answers I gave to previous Questions. I assure him that what he says is not the case.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonAs a primary measure, would it not be very useful to have a Commonwealth Conference in order to overcome some of the difficulties which exist between the different Commonwealth countries?
§ Mr. GaitskellIs the hon. and learned Gentleman aware that the tendency at present for country after country to restrict imports is having a most damaging effect upon our own exports and world trade generally? Are the Government taking any steps whatever on an international basis to put this matter right?
§ Mr. StraussThere is no basis for the right hon. Gentleman's deductions from my answer. This Question proposes the calling of an international conference now for this purpose. In the view of the Government, that would not be advantageous at the moment. That, of course, is not in conflict with any object which the right hon. Gentleman may have in mind.
§ Mr. GaitskellThen perhaps the hon. and learned Gentleman will tell us what Her Majesty's Government are doing to deal with this matter.