§ 34. Mr. Roseasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will initiate talks with the Government of the German Democratic Republic with a view to expanding the existing volume of trade with that country.
§ Mr. RedheadNo, Sir. Her Majesty's Government do not recognise the so-called German Democratic Republic.
§ Mr. RoseIs my hon. Friend aware that official sources in East Germany have recently stated that the annual trade between our two countries could be trebled? I ask him not to allow his and my natural distaste for aspects of the East German régime to stand in the way of trade with this vastly expanding market.
§ Mr. RedheadThe expression of that hope, I regret to say, is not reflected in our recent experience of trade with East Germany. Unfortunately, it has fallen far short of the provisions made in the 1964 trade arrangements negotiated by the Federation of British Industries.