§ 2.40 p.m.
VISCOUNT ELIBANKMy Lords, I beg to ask the second 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 drawn to the inclusion of ingot copper among the goods to be supplied to China by Japanese exporters under the Agreement concluded on March 5, 1958; and whether, in the light of this fact, they will now relax the limitations imposed on the export of copper wire to China from this country so that British manufacturers may go ahead and book orders.]
§ LORD MANCROFTMy Lords, this is a non-Governmental Agreement in which ingot copper is one of a number of items which may be exported to China from Japan. However, as long as such copper remains embargoed we can assume that the Japanese Government would not permit its export to China unless they had first ascertained and considered the views of the Paris Consultative Group. As regards copper wire, I would refer the noble Viscount to the Answer which I gave to him on February 25. Within the terms of the policy which I then explained, limited quantities of copper wire may be licensed for export to China.
VISCOUNT ELIBANKI beg to thank the noble Lord for his Answer. Is he aware that ingot copper and copper wire are intimately connected, one with the other? May I also ask him for an assurance that the Japanese exporters will not be allowed to steal a march on British industrialists in this matter?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord: how can Her Majesty's Government assume that the Japanese Government will not export ingot copper to China? Surely the reputation of the Japanese traders is quite sufficient to know that they will take every opportunity to steal a march, as the noble Viscount, Lord Elibank, suggested.
§ LORD MANCROFTMy Lords, I am well aware of the circumstances which prompted the noble Earl to ask that question. We are hoping that the Japanese have mended their ways, but we are watching them.
§ VISCOUNT STANSGATEIs the noble Lord not going a bit far when he propounds the general principle that "we hope the Japanese have mended their ways"? Why not tell them about the "impact on the bloc"? Would that not help?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I can only ask the Minister to do his best to protect the interests of this country and its trade and not allow the Japanese to steal our markets.
§ LORD MANCROFTMy Lords, I will repeat to the noble Lord the assurance I gave him two or three weeks ago: we are watching this matter carefully, and we do not intend to allow a repetition of what happened before the war.
§ LORD HENDERSONMy Lords, the question of continuing the embargo is a matter of policy. Has not the situation changed considerably since that policy was decided on some years ago, and is it not time to change the policy and end the embargo?
§ LORD MANCROFTThe noble Lord, Lord Henderson, is quite right; the situation certainly has changed. There is not yet agreement between all concerned as to the exact extent to which it has changed.
§ LORD HENDERSONIf there is no agreement among the nations concerned, may I take it that Her Majesty's Government are in favour of ending the embargo and are pressing other nations to agree with them?
§ LORD MANCROFTMy Lords, the noble Lord may take it that Her Majesty's Government are in favour of ensuring that such embargo as there is shall be thoroughly realistic.