HC Deb 20 March 1957 vol 567 cc385-7
49. Mr. Bence

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action he intends taking in response to the request of the Federation of British Industries and the National Chambers of Commerce that the limitations on trade with China should be considerably reduced.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. David Ormsby-Gore)

The letter referred to suggested that this subject should be discussed at Bermuda.

Full weight has been given to the representations referred to by the hon. Member and it is likely that this topic will be raised in the Bermuda discussions.

Mr. Bence

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware—and I hope his right hon. and learned Friend will take notice of this—that there are many organisations and people here who are convinced that this country is about the only one in the world which is complying with the strategic list, that many of the items on the list are completely out of date, and that the list should be revised?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

I can assure the hon. Gentleman that his first assumption is totally untrue. A great many other countries are complying with these restrictions, and it is a question of getting agreement with those other countries before we can be relieved of these restrictions any further.

Mr. P. Noel-Baker

Since the hostilities in Korea ended in 1953, is not it about time that these restrictions ended too?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

I have said that this topic is to be discussed, but we are still operating under a United Nations Resolution, and we have to get agreement with a large number of other countries.

Mr. H. Wilson

If the right hon. Gentleman thinks that my right hon. Friend is wrong, he is the only person in this country who really thinks that. Will the Minister ensure that when this matter is raised at Bermuda, which we all welcome, it will be borne in mind that it stems from action taken in 1951 under the United Nations Resolution of 18th May, and that various predecessors of his have given as the excuse for the continuance of these restrictions first, that fighting was going on in Korea and, second, that fighting was going on in Indo China—[HON. MEMBERS: "Speech."]

Mr. Speaker

Order.

Mr. Wilson

Will the Minister ask his right hon. and learned Friend to bring it to the attention of the American Government that all these factors are long in the past, and that our trading interests are being prejudiced?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

Of course we shall take all these factors into account, but I can tell the right hon. Gentleman that the United Kingdom has made as much use of the exceptions procedure as any other country.

Mr. Bevan

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that every time this question has been raised the answer has been that the American administration is faced with Congressional pressure from the Chinese "lobby", and would not it be desirable if we had some pressure from this lobby, including hon. Gentlemen opposite?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

I do not think that is an excuse which has ever been used in this House for the procedure —[Hon. Members: "Oh."]—I am saying that it has not been used in this House and that this matter is to be considered at the Bermuda Conference.

Mr. Peyton

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Would it be possible for you to introduce some form of rationing, or physical control, as regards the right hon. Gentleman on the Front Bench opposite?

Mr. Speaker

That is not a point of order. Mr. Biggs-Davison.