HL Deb 21 April 1953 vol 181 cc989-90

2.42 p.m.

LORD WINSTER

My Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether their attention has been called to a Press statement that Senator J. R. McCarthy has said his subcommittee soon will branch out to investigate ships under British and other flags carrying goods to China, or between Soviet-bloc,without any reference to Mr. Dulles or any other Executive agency; and, if so, can it be stated what precisely this implies.]

THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (THE MARQUESS OF READING)

My Lords, I have seen the Press reports referred to in the noble Lord's Question, but I regret that I have no information on this matter beyond what is contained in those reports.

LORD WINSTER

My Lords, I thank the noble Marquess for his reply, which has established the point I sought to make: that there is no substance, so far as is known at present, in the report, although it appeared in one American newspaper of very great responsibility. I asked the Question because the Merchant Navy has had good reason to resent the results arising out of the McCarran Act, although I hope that that Act is in process of becoming a dead letter so far as our Merchant Navy is concerned. But I hope that it may be noted in the appropriate quarters that, while we have no comment to make upon Senator McCarthy's activities in his own country, we hope that he will not intrude those activities into the affairs of our Merchant Navy.

LORD OGMORE

Arising out of this Question, may I ask the Minister whether his attention has been drawn to an informative article in this month's Eastern World, in which the writer seeks to show that there is a growing and very large body of trade with China from countries behind the Iron Curtain, and that the policy mentioned in this Question has not done any harm to China but has harmed only us, who have been prevented from trading with one of our very ancient trading sources?

THE MARQUESS OF READING

My Lords, it would require a considerable stretch of imagination to regard that question as rising out of the Question on the Paper. My attention has been drawn for the first time by the noble Lord to the article in question, and I will now peruse it.

LORD OGMORE

I was careful not to say that my supplementary question rose out of the Answer. I said it arose out of the Question—which is in rather broad terms.

VISCOUNT ELIBANK

Will the noble Marquess take up the whole question raised by the noble Lord, Lord Ogmore? It is a very important one.

THE MARQUESS OF READING

I have said that now that my attention has been called to the article I will peruse it; but until I have perused it I cannot say whether any action will be taken upon it.