HC Deb 19 November 1946 vol 430 cc72-3W
103. Mr. Lennox-Boyd

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in the trade talks now proceeding between the United Kingdom and the U.S. Governments, special attention is being paid to the proposals contained in the Suggested Charter for an International Trade Organisation of the United Nations that the existing preferential arrangement between the U.S.A. and Cuba shall be excepted from the discussions on the elimination of preferences; and what is the policy of His Majesty's Government on this proposal.

Mr. Marquand

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the relevant passage in the Draft Charter for an International Trade Organisation as published by the United States Government shortly before the present session of the Preparatory Committee met. I think that the hon. Member will agree that the wording of this passage in relation to preferences in force exclusively between the United States and Cuba does not bear the precise interpretation which he has put upon it.