§ 2.36 p.m.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have received representations from the Sino-British Trade Committee representing the Federation of British Industries, the National Union of Manufacturers, the China Association, the Association of British Chambers of Commerce and the London Chamber of Commerce strongly urging the removal of restrictions on trade with China; and whether, following on the Bermuda Conference, they will approach all the Governments associated in the confidential committee sitting in Paris known as "Cocom" with a view to securing their acquiescence in the termination of the out-of-date China embargo, which, in the words of a leading article in The Times newspaper of 22nd March, 1957, "has long outlived its justification."]
THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (THE EARL OF GOSFORD)My Lords, as my right honourable friend the President of the Board of Trade stated in another place on March 21, Her Majesty's Government have received the representations referred to by the noble Viscount. With regard to the second part of the noble Viscount's Question, following upon further consultations with our friends and 1128 Allies, Her Majesty's Government hope to be able to secure a satisfactory solution to the problem of the China trade controls in the very near future.
VISCOUNT ELIBANKMy Lords, I thank the noble Earl for his Answer, which will be received with satisfaction by the British industrial community. In view of the fact that the Foreign Secretary said in another place, on his return from Bermuda, that the Government were prepared to wait only a little longer before taking further action in this matter, may I express the hope that "a little longer" really will be only a little longer before they proceed to independent action on behalf of British industry and the British economy?