Miss Wardasked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the importance of our trade connections with France and the desirability of making early contact with our friends, representatives of business interests have been invited to fly to France immediately; and what individual interests are represented.
§ Mr. George HallHis Majesty's Government are fully alive to the importance of restoring our trade connections with France at the earliest possible moment. My hon. Friend will be aware that France is still the scene of military operations and that the whole of that country, including Paris, is an operational zone as provided for in the Civil Affairs Agreement of the 25th August. In view of military requirements and of the shortage of food and means of local transportation as well as of the lack of communications 463W in France, it is not possible for such facilities to be provided.