§ Q6. Mr. Fernyhoughasked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his discussions with President Johnson about the export of buses by Great Britain to Cuba.
§ The Prime MinisterI would refer the hon. Gentleman to the Answers I gave to Questions on the 18th of February.
§ Mr. FernyhoughYes, but in the Answer to that Question the Prime Minister said that he was quite satisfied that the Americans had no intention of 238 imposing any kind of embargo. If that is so, can the right hon. Gentleman explain to me how it is that with 20 million tons of merchant shipping we are unable to get a single ship to carry a valuable export order to Cuba and we have to go to Communist Germany to obtain these facilities? Can the right hon. Gentleman say why British shipping is so afraid and so intimidated if there is no blacklisting? If the right hon. Gentleman believes that the Americans are not intent on making difficulties for British shipping, will he read the report made today by the Chamber of Shipping and can he say whether Leylands asked the Admiralty whether it could help the company by providing an aircraft carrier? If Leylands did ask, what was the reason for the refusal?
§ The Prime MinisterThe Question which I was asked the other day was whether the American Government were behind the boycott of British trade and I said that I was satisfied that they were not. Of course, the United States Foreign Assistance Act, 1963, requires the President to take such action against countries which did not by 14th February prohibit their ships from carrying goods to Cuba and the American Government are bound by their legislation. I am not approving it, of course—
Mr. H. WilsonWhile we all agree about the line taken about the export of buses by Leylands, we were not quite clear last week about the Prime Minister's answers. Was the right hon. Gentleman equally vehement in making representations to President Johnson about the blacklisting of British ships as about the question of trade in buses and other things with Cuba?
§ The Prime MinisterI constantly, all the time, tell the American Government how important shipping is to us. We deplore this type of legislation, but of course Congress passed it and the American Government are bound by it.
§ Mr. FernyhoughWill the Prime Minister seek some contact with British shipping lines to ascertain from them why it is that they are afraid to carry legitimate British exports to Cuba?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir. Certainly I will have conversations, if necessary, with British shipping lines, but they 239 must judge for themselves what trade is profitable and what is not.