§ Sir W. DAVISONasked the President of the Board of Trade what is the present position with regard to the proposal made by him at Geneva for a tariff truce between this country and foreign countries; and to what extent this proposal would involve the acceptance by this country for a period of years of the existing high tariffs of foreign countries against British goods entering such countries without the possibility of the imposition of similar duties on goods coining from such countries to Great Britain?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMAs regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on 3rd December to the hon. Member for Newcastle North (Sir N. Grattan-Doyle). As regards the second part, the proposal is that, during the limited period of the1214W truce, existing duties shall be treated as the maximum, and it is without prejudice to any action that may be taken for their reduction. Futher, the truce is only to be a preliminary to concerted international action for reducing tariffs. His Majesty's Government will, therefore, by participating, be entitled to enjoy the benefit of any ultimate reductions which may result from the negotiations.