HC Deb 17 February 1959 vol 600 cc186-7
37. Mr. Teeling

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the Prime Minister's impending visit to Moscow and study of trade conditions there, he will now take steps to open trade discussions with other Iron Curtain countries, especially Hungary.

Mr. Vaughan-Morgan

We already have regular trade discussions with most of these countries, including Hungary.

Mr. Teeling

Are there likely to be any fresh or more detailed discussions with Hungary in the near future?

Mr. Vaughan-Morgan

We start our next round of formal talks in May.

Mr. H. Wilson

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that we welcome the Prime Minister's new-found enthusiasm for trade with the Soviet Union and other Eastern European countries and that despite the disappointments we have had over five or six years in his capacity both as Foreign Secretary and Chancellor of the Exchequer, when we have sought repeatedly to get some of these embargoes lifted, I very much welcome the fact that he has—[HON. MEMBERS: "Question."] The question began with the words "Is the hon. Gentleman aware", which is interrogatory. Is he aware that we welcome the fact that the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary state that they will now try to help Anglo-Soviet trade, for a change?

Mr. Vaughan-Morgan

Allowing for the element of exaggeration and even of hyperbole which crept into that lengthy supplementary question, I would say that we are all anxious to see Anglo-Russian trade develop.