§ Sir W. Fletcherasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now issue, to all trade organisations here and overseas within the Colonial Territories, directives on trade and shipping with China during the armistice period, bearing in mind the obvious willingness of other countries to supply goods, raw materials and shipping.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftI would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 30th July during the debate on Korea and the Far East, when he made it clear that pending a reconsideration of policy at the appropriate time after the armistice, our policy on trade with China would remain unchanged. Trade organisations are fully aware of this policy, which has been stated on many occasions.
I would also refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on 18th June in reply to a Question by the hon. and learned Member for Aberdeen. North (Mr. Hector Hughes).