§ Q3. Mr. Shinwellasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the effect on the United Kingdom's trade, he will draw President Kennedy's attention to the effect on the Anglo-American alliance of the action of the United States Government in persisting in the policy of flag discrimination which is operating to the increasing disadvantage of British shipping.
§ The Prime MinisterThe United States Government have already been made aware of our view of the damaging effect of discrimination wherever it occurs.
§ Mr. ShinwellHow is it possible to promote effective Anglo-American cooperation when the United States Government continue this most objectionable practice? Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that the matter has become worsened because of the recent decision of the United States Government to demand disclosure of shipping documents, and is not the position of British shipping becoming steadily worse? If the right hon. Gentleman's efforts so far have failed—I do not blame the right hon. Gentleman; I blame President Kennedy—will he consider sending someone at his own expense—me, for example—to talk to President Kennedy on this subject?
§ The Prime MinisterThere are two separate questions here. There is the question of discrimination, where, of course, the United States practice and example are, though regrettable, not, alas, the only or even the worst example of discrimination by other countries. There is the quite separate question of the unilateral regulation of international shipping to which the right hon. Gentleman has referred, and against that we are now considering what steps we should take.
§ Mr. ShinwellBut does not the right hon. Gentleman appreciate the point I am making? How can we have effective co-operation and partnership in N.A.T.O. and elsewhere when the action of the United States Government is destroying, or almost destroying, our British shipping?
§ The Prime MinisterHappily, it has not done that yet. This discrimination is, I am afraid, done not only by the United States but by a great number of other countries.
§ Mr. Hector HughesDoes the Prime Minister realise that his Answer to my right hon. Friend was one-sided? It is not enough to make British views known to the United States Government. We want to know what is the reaction of the United States Government to the British views, since great damage is being done to British shipping and British trading by what is happening at present.
§ The Prime MinisterI understand that, of course, but right hon. and hon. Members will understand that we have to study very carefully before we fall 1011 into what was the temptation of taking similar action ourselves because, on the whole, we gain by the freest possible arrangements.