§ 2.38 p.m.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her. Majesty's Government whether they are in a position to make a statement regarding the conclusions arrived at anent the China embargo at, the recent meetings of "Cocom" in Paris.]
THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (THE EARL OF GOSFORD)My Lords, the discussions in "Cocom" on strategic controls—if the noble Viscount will forgive me, I would remind him that there is no longer a separate China embargo—have not yet 70 been concluded. For this reason I regret that I am unable to make a statement to-day.
VISCOUNT ELIBANKMy Lords, I thank the noble Earl for his Answer. May I ask him this further question? Having regard to the fact that the discussions in Cocom "have now been going on for at least seven months, and that well over one hundred meetings have taken place, will he bear in mind that every week's delay in announcing the result means a loss to British industry?
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords, Her Majesty's Government are fully aware, I think I can say of the losses, such as they are, to British industry in any delay that there may be in announcing the result of this present review of the controls. Her Majesty's Government are fully alive to this and are most desirous that these results should be announced at the earliest possible moment. However, as the noble Viscount knows, there are fourteen other countries involved, and although we are trying our best—in fact, asking that the result should be laid before your Lordships at the earliest possible moment, the earliest possible moment, unfortunately, has not yet arrived.
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, may I ask the noble Earl whether it is not proving to be the case that this long delay in dealing with these controls is having a very grave political effect internationally; that it is turning the great potential economic position of China more and more to the confined Communist world, and, therefore, instead of working to spread all the good feeling required, which comes with the interchange of trade, has made the position much more politically difficult?
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords, with due respect to the noble Viscount, I think that he is exaggerating the situation.
§ VISCOUNT STANSGATEMy Lords, could the noble Earl say whether it is correct, as reported in the Press this morning, that there is an order for £1 million worth of tractors pending from this country?
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords, I regret that, not having had prior notice of that question, I am unable to answer it.
§ VISCOUNT STANSGATEBut are not these the matters that we discuss at "Cocom"—namely, British trade and British orders?
VISCOUNT ELIBANKMy Lords, may I ask the noble Earl this question: Has the attention of the Government been drawn to the report in to-day's Times giving the results of a certain inquiry by the Federation of British Industries into international trade, and to the statement in The Times itself that the inquiry shows that no less than 76 per cent. of the firms concerned reported that they were working below capacity and that new orders have been declining? That being so, does it not show the urgent necessity of allowing British industries early and extensive entry into the China markets?
§ LORD TREFGARNEMy Lords, may I ask the noble Earl whether it is not the fact that there is no statutory or treaty obligation upon Her Majesty's Government not to act independently in this matter if they think that the delay becomes unduly protracted? Will they therefore consider whether the time has not arrived to act independently in this case?
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords, as I have already said on previous occasions, it is hoped that the results of the review which is now going on will come out during the early part of the summer. I have no reason to alter that remark, and therefore I do not think that the noble Lord's remarks apply.
§ LORD TREFGARNEMy Lords, would the noble Earl be good enough to answer my question—namely, is it or is it not a fact that Her Majesty's Government have a clear right to act independently if they think fit, without any treaty or other obligation being infringed?
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords, I regret that I do not find myself in the position of having to answer that question. It is a hypothetical question—
§ LORD OGMORENo, it is factual.
VISCOUNT ELIBANKIs it not a fact that last May the Government did, in 72 effect, act independently when they reduced the China embargo to the level of the Russian embargo?
LORD REAMy Lords, when the noble Earl says that the result will be out in the early part of the summer, is he referring to next year, in view of the fact that midsummer has already arrived?