Argentine Literature: Import Ban (Hansard, 17 December 1984)

§ Lord Kennet
My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Lucas of Chilworth)
My Lords, the Government's embargo on the import of goods exported from Argentina applies to books and other publications only if they are imported for resale or redistribution. This reflects the Government's wish to discourage any trade which might benefit Argentina until their sanctions against United Kingdom firms have been dismantled. We have repeatedly urged the Argentine Government to agree to the reciprocal lifting of all remaining commercial and economic restrictions between us. So far the Argentines have not shown any willingness to respond.

§ Lord Kennet
My Lords, the House will be grateful to the noble Lord for explaining how the ban works. But is not the case thus: that the operation of the ban impoverishes British booksellers and enriches Argentine booksellers? Is it not a bit absurd that, two and a half years after the end of a war which lasted for only a month, we should still be frightened of the free exchange of the printed word between us? Finally, in a country which prides itself on the flexibility of its administrative arrangements—and I refer to our own—would it not be possible to find some way round this stupid ban?

§ Lord Lucas of Chilworth
My Lords, the Government acknowledge that the results of the embargo are perhaps less than perfect, but we must avoid setting precedents which would inevitably lead to the embargo being undermined. Such action would not assist in any way the Government's primary objective of securing a fully reciprocal lifting of all remaining commercial and economic sanctions.

§ Lord Shinwell
My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that this is similar to the policy that we, alongside France, adopted at Versailles after the First World 436 War and which proved to our disadvantage and laid the foundations of another war? What is the reason for it? Do we want to continue this quarrel with the Argentine? Will that be to our advantage? Have we not had enough of it?

§ Lord Lucas of Chilworth
My Lords, I certainly was not aware of the matter raised in the first part of Lord Shinwell's question. The reality of the matter is that the Falkland Islands were invaded. We wish to move to more normal relations with the Argentine but we and the people of the Falklands are entitled first to have it made clear that there is no further intention of hostilities. We have made a number of efforts at reconciliation with regard to trade, but the Argentine have consistently and explicitly refused to give the confirmation for which we ask over that first matter.

§ Lord Strabolgi
My Lords, has the Minister seen the letter in The Times from the director of a foreign language university booksellers which is a very reputable firm? If so, is he also aware that that firm has had a consignment of Argentine books and literature held up now for well over a year, that they have been obliged to pay the exporter for the consignment, and that at least 25 universities and many students are without this material which they need for their studies? Can the Government not make some distinction as regards cultural matters of this kind, and grow up?

§ Lord Lucas of Chilworth
My Lords, I have not seen the letter to which the noble Lord, Lord Strabolgi, refers. But there is no question of growing up or not growing up. Students, university and higher educational libraries have established direct import links with booksellers in the Argentine and they are not affected by any embargo.

§ Viscount Montgomery of Alamein
My Lords, does my noble friend appreciate that before the recent tragic conflict, Anglo-Argentine two-way trade exceeded some £300 million in total? Does he further appreciate that the Argentine economy is in some difficulty, that we are currently in the process of debt renegotiations, and that everything should be done to stimulate their foreign trade? Moreover, does he also appreciate that we, as one of their previous strong partners, would be well advised to make some type of magnanimous gesture (particularly as we were the victors in the unfortunate conflict) to stimulate this trade and thereby encourage the Argentine economy to recover to the benefit of all concerned?

§ Lord Lucas of Chilworth
My Lords, I am very well aware of the figures pertaining to our trade with the Argentine before the outbreak of hostilities to which my noble friend Lord Montgomery refers. So far as financial matters are concerned, we have made some relaxation in order that the Argentine's debt rescheduling programme—required by the IMF—may be encouraged and that thereby their own economy will also be encouraged.

§ Lord Kilmarnock
My Lords, will the noble Lord accept that the present rules have precisely the opposite effect to that intended by the Government? Is it not the case that they affect British booksellers 437 adversely because they are unable to import these books directly from the Argentine, but Argentine booksellers are allowed to export directly into the United Kingdom? Is it not absurd that books addressed to British booksellers should be lying under seizure in Her Majesty's Customs when they can be ordered direct from Buenos Aires?

§ Lord Lucas of Chilworth
My Lords, I do not agree with the noble Lord that the present arrangements have exactly the opposite effect to that which is intended. Unless I have misunderstood the noble Lord, the Argentines may export individual books, magazines and other publications to this country provided that they are not imported into this country for resale, or trade, or redistribution. So there is no disadvantage to students and other institutions.

§ Lord Kilmarnock
My Lords, is there not a disadvantage to British booksellers?

§ Lord Lucas of Chilworth
My Lords, there is certainly a disadvantage to British booksellers, but we also have to look at the wider aspects of our trade, and while the Argentine prohibits the import from the United Kingdom of products other than those which they specifically need for their own national interest, it would not be right that we should put our own people at a serious disadvantage.

§ Lord Kennet
My Lords, will the noble Lord be so good as to draw this exchange to the attention of the noble Baroness, the Minister of State, who is responsible, under the Foreign Secretary, for relations with Argentina and who is sitting two places down the Bench from him?

§ Lord Lucas of Chilworth
My Lords, I am quite sure that my noble friend will take note of the exchanges that have occurred in the House this afternoon.