HC Deb 02 June 1938 vol 336 c2275W
Mr. Thorne

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to prevent German importers of goods into this country making conditions that payments must be either in cash or raw materials?

Mr. Stanley:

The Anglo-German Payments Agreement does not make any provision as to the manner in which pay-

Description. Quantity. Declared Value.
1936. 1937. January to April, 1938 (a). 1936. 1937 January to April, 1938 (a).
Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. £ £ £
Grape fruit 189,308 206,413 186,972 227,263
Oranges 1,359,535 2,092,845 1,491,680 2,055,136
Lemons, limes and other citrus fruits, not elsewhere specified. 25,023 26,136 52 31,335 26,602 53
(a) Owing to the seasonal character of the trade in citrus fruits from the Union of South Africa imports during this period are normally insignificant.
Note.—The 1937 and 1938 figures are provisional.

With regard to the second part of the question, I would point out that the present preferences in respect of oranges and grape fruit are guaranteed under the Agreement made with the Union of South Africa at Ottawa in 1932, and cannot be reduced or removed while that Agreement is in force without the consent of the South African Government.