§ 35. Sir G. Foxasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the local Department for Economic Affairs in Singapore have recently been offering Japanese goods for sale; and that the envelopes containing their quotations are being rubber-stamped "Trade with Japan"; and, in view of the bad impression thus created on the Chinese, if he will ensure that this practice is discontinued.
§ Mr. Rees-WilliamsI am aware that the Department of Economic Affairs in Singapore has been offering Japanese goods for sale. Trade between Japan and other countries has been exclusively and is still very largely on a Government to Government basis and goods necessarily pass through Government Departments. Correspondence was stamped with the description title "Trade with Japan" to indicate its subject matter. This has not created a bad impression upon Chinese in Singapore and my information is that they have not misinterpreted it as a slogan. The practice of stamping envelopes with this title has however been discontinued.