§ Sir A. KNOXasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is satisfied that the secret agreement between the Palestine Potash Company and the Franco-German Cartel is in the best interests of this country, in view of the fact that the products of the Palestine Company are mainly marketed in Great Britain and it is essential that the supply of potash fertilisers to Great Britain and the Empire should be free of German control?
Mr. THOMASIn view of its mandatory responsibility for Palestine and Trans-Jordan, His Majesty's Government must have regard to the interests of those countries, but I am satisfied that 1071W the agreement, while it is clearly to the advantage of Palestine and Trans-Jordan, is not injurious to this country. There is no question of the Palestine Company coming under the control of the Continental cartel; on the contrary the agreement protects the Company.