Mr. Rostron Duckworthasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he has any information on the nature of the new trade agreement between the Argentine Government and Japan, and the effect it will have on the export of Lancashire textiles?
§ Mr. ShakespeareYes, Sir. His Majesty's Ambassador at Buenos Aires has reported that according to the Argentine Press an agreement was concluded on 15th March between the Argentine and the Japanese Governments by which Japan has undertaken to purchase in 1940 wool, chilled and canned beef and casein to the value of 30,000,000 yen, in consideration of which the Argentine Government for its part has agreed to permit the import of certain siderurgical products, textiles and chemicals in respect of which the necessary facilities will be granted by the Exchange Control authorities. A further and more detailed report is expected shortly from His Majesty's Representative at Buenos Aires, and until this can be studied I cannot say what effect the agreement is likely to have on the export to Argentina of textiles from Lancashire.