§ 32. Lieut.-Colonel Schofieldasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the damaging effect caused to the cotton textile industry in this country by the prolonged delay on the part of the United States Government in announcing their future price support policy for United States cotton; and whether he will again impress upon the United States Government the need for an early statement.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftYes, Sir. The Government have taken, and will continue to take, every opportunity to impress on the United States authorities not only the urgent need for an announcement of their cotton export policy for the coming season, but also that they should take no action which might endanger the world trade in raw cotton.
§ Lieut.-Colonel SchofieldWhile thanking my right hon. Friend for that answer, may I ask whether he would not agree that the uncertainty now being created in the cotton textile industry because of this delay on the part of the American Government in making known their intentions 1336 on price support policy, is virtually bringing business in the cotton textile industry to a standstill?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftI think I would certainly agree that at this moment the uncertainty with regard to United States policy about disposals is the most urgent problem confronting the cotton textile industry, not only of this country, but of many other countries.
Mr. H. WilsonSince this matter has been raised from this side of the House for several months as being a very urgent question, and since the right hon. Gentleman says that every possible step has been taken, will he say why he rejected the proposal of my hon. Friend the Member for Ashton-under-Lyne (Mr. Rhodes) that he should go to Washington and press this matter personally on United States Ministers? Will he also tell the House whether, at the recent high-level meeting at Geneva, the Prime Minister pressed this question upon the President of the United States?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftIt is for me to judge whether it is better to make a personal visit or whether the matter should be pressed by Her Majesty's Ambassador, which is the appropriate method of doing these things, with the United States Government. I can give the assurance that every appropriate method has been adopted of bringing home to the United States Government the need, not only for an urgent decision, but also for a decision upon lines which will not disrupt the trade in raw cotton in world markets.