§ 19. Mr. Russellasked the President of the Board of Trade if he has any statement to make on the Government's policy in relation to the entry of Japan into the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftAs my hon. Friend knows, our position was made clear at the meeting of the Contracting Parties to the General Agreement last 579 autumn. It was there decided, with our approval and that of the other Commonwealth Governments, with whom we have kept in close consultation, that detailed examination should be made of "the conditions and timing under which the Japanese application should be pursued." An Inter-Sessional Committee of the Contracting Parties is now meeting to consider this matter, and we must wait to see what conditions can be arranged to safeguard our industries and Commonwealth trade against a revival of disruptive competition.