VISCOUNT ELIBANKasked His Majesty's Government what steps have been taken or are in contemplation for dealing with the most-favoured-nation clause, and whether in connection with any renewals of trade agreements ex- 919WA piring this year or in the future, the most-favoured-nation clause will be abandoned.
§ LORD TEMPLEMOREHis Majesty's Government do not contemplate the indiscriminate denunciation of all commercial agreements containing the mostfavoured-nation clause. The stability of commercial relations resulting from the general maintenance of the principle of most-favoured-nation treatment is of overriding importance to a great exporting country such as the United Kingdom. His Majesty's Government would not, however, be prepared to continue indefinitely to accord such treatment to920WA countries which showed themselves unwilling to meet the reasonable requirements of this country in regard to the treatment of United Kingdom goods. The question whether it is desirable to take steps to secure the modification or deletion of the most-favoured-nation clause from an existing commercial agreement, or to include such a clause in a new agreement, is a question of expediency which cannot be settled except by reference to the circumstances of a particular negotiation with a foreign country.
House adjourned at four minutes past seven o'clock.