§ 59. Lieut.-Colonel Liptonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the result, to date, of his negotiations with the United States Treasury under the Mutual Security Act for the purchase of United States tobacco and other products.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerSo far we have agreed to buy 20 million dollars worth of tobacco and 5 million dollars worth of prunes. Discussions on other commodities are continuing.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonIs not this a rather unsatisfactory state of affairs, in that all we have managed to get so far is some tobacco and prunes? Are we not going to do better than that? May I ask whether these will be genuine additions to the usual volume of dollar supplies and what conditions apply to the expenditure of the sterling thus acquired by the United States Government?
§ Mr. ButlerThis is only part of the purchase and may amount approximately to one-third, so that there is still hope for others with different tastes.