13. Mr. Gresham Cookeasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that certain European countries trading with Japan are facilitating trade for their domestic manufacturers, by taking over blocked yen as a national liability and crediting their manufacturers with the domestic currency equivalent; and, in view of the damage this is doing to the United Kingdom export trade with Japan, what are his intentions in the matter.
§ Mr. Selwyn LloydI have no knowledge of this, but I will make further inquiries if the hon. Member can give me details of any case he has in mind.
Mr. Gresham CookeIs my right hon. and learned Friend aware that British agents in Tokyo of British manufacturers are saying that if a German 211 manufacturer receives an order and is paid in blocked yen the German Government will release German marks to the manufacturer and take over the account of blocked yen? If this is the case, it is a serious detriment to our export trade. Will my right hon. and learned Friend make further inquiries of our commercial attaché in Tokyo about this matter?
§ Mr. LloydWe have made extensive inquiries in Tokyo through our Embassy and in Bonn through our Embassy, through the Japanese Ministry for Foreign Affairs and of the German authorities. If my hon. Friend will give me some evidence of what he alleges, I can take the matter further.