§ Mr. Bossomasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the exact wording of the agreement made with the Malayan rubber planters for the bulk purchase of their product.
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§ Sir S. CrippsNo such agreement has been made with Malayan rubber planters for the bulk purchase of their product. Up to 5th May last, stocks of rubber and new production in Malaya were purchased by a rubber purchasing unit in Malaya on behalf of the Board of Trade. Since that date, purchases have been made by the Board of Trade through the normal commercial channels. One of the terms agreed with U.S. representatives in June was that the Government of the United Kingdom would be prepared to buy at all times for shipment up to the end of the year any rubber offered to it from British Far Eastern sources at the price of 23½ U.S. cents per pound f.o.b. Far Eastern port. This undertaking has been kept.