HC Deb 27 July 1953 vol 518 cc869-70
11. Mr. A. Henderson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations he has received following the report of the United States Senate sub-Committee with regard to United Kingdom trading with China; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

No representations have been received. The report adds little to the allegations already made public during the Committee's hearings and dealt with in the answer given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary on 17th June.

The important facts are that, whereas Her Majesty's Government welcome the development of trade with China in non-strategic goods—and there must be ships to carry these goods—they have taken energetic measures to prevent strategic goods reaching China, either from the United Kingdom or Colonies or in our ships.

Her Majesty's Government are, of course, only responsible for United Kingdom and colonial flag ships. They do, however, deny bunkering facilities to ships of other nations carrying strategic goods, and co-operate vigorously with other friendly countries to prevent the circumvention of the controls recommended by the United Nations.

Mr. Henderson

In view of the widespread publicity which this report received in the United States, and of the attempts of Senator McCarthy to inflame American opinion against this country, would the right hon. and learned Gentleman consider issuing a White Paper and, in any event, taking every possible step to ensure that the British case receives as much publicity as possible in the United States?

Mr. Lloyd

I will certainly consider further the question of a White Paper, and I entirely agree that it is very important that the British case should be circulated widely in the United States. I have no doubt that in the debate on foreign affairs which is to take place during the next few days in another place further reference will be made to this matter.

Mr. Wyatt

What representations have the Government made to the United States about the purchase by the United States of 28 million dollars' worth of Chinese goods during last year, in view of the fact that dollars in the area concerned can be used to buy arms in any quantities and must be a very valuable strategic weapon in the hands of the Chinese Communists, who are probably buying arms in Formosa with them?

Mr. Lloyd

I agree with the hon. Gentleman that it is certainly one of the facts in this controversy which ought to be well-known.

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