§ 21. Mr. McMasterasked the Minister of Transport what recent progress has been made in negotiations with other maritime nations in an effort to curb restrictive shipping practices such as flag reservation, flag discrimination and the use of flags of convenience; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MarplesI had a most useful meeting last December with Ministers responsible for shipping in nine other European countries at which we all agreed to work closely together in countering flag discrimination.
We have not so far considered flags of convenience at these international meetings as there are more pressing problems confronting European shipping.
§ Mr. McMasterMay I ask my right hon. Friend whether he can say what success has been achieved in negotiations between Europe and the United States in this case? Before any protest is made about sending buses to Cuba, will my right hon. Friend ask the United States to stop damaging our mercantile marine interests in this way?
§ Mr. MarplesThis meeting in London was really called so that all the maritime nations of Europe could present a united front against United States flag discrimination, and we were successful in getting unanimity amongst 10 European nations, I think for the first time in history. In addition, Japan accepted an invitation to join the 10 and make her protest to America, so we now have 11 countries, including Japan, with well over half the world's shipping, united against the activities of the Federal Maritime Commission of the United States. I am glad to say that the chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission is coming to Europe—in fact I think he is in Paris now.
§ Mr. MellishI wish this discussion a happy conclusion, but may I ask the Minister whether he is aware that his Harbours Bill is going to introduce, by unilateral action, the necessity for foreign ships to have equipment of British standards, which could lead to trouble in foreign ports if we insisted on doing something on our own? Will the right 370 hon. Gentleman practise what he preaches and try to get general agreement instead of taking unilateral action?
§ Mr. MarplesI shall look at that during the Report stage of the Bill.
§ Mr. WebsterMay I ask my right hon. Friend whether he is aware that the chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission has restricted authority, and is not this a matter to be dealt with by Congress rather than by the Commission?
§ Mr. MarplesIt is true that the Commission is a creature of Congress, and that ultimately this will be a matter for Congress. The point is that we stand much more chance of success if the whole of Europe and Japan are united in a common policy.