§ Dame Irene Wardasked the President of the Board of Trade whether an agreement has been reached with the Federal Maritime Commission of the United States of America; whether he is satisfied that it is acceptable to the British Government and British shipping interests; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MasonNo general agreement has been reached with the Federal Maritime Commission or with the United States Administration. We have explained to the United States authorities our reasons for rejecting the analysis of freight rates recently issued by the Federal Maritime Commission and, in common with a number of other maritime countries, we are concerned at many of the orders and 83W proposed regulations which the Commission has recently issued. We are always ready to study ways and means of reaching a reasonable settlement of differences on shipping matters. We must, however, reserve the right to take appropriate action where any measure adopted by the Federal Maritime Commission infringes our territorial jurisdiction or prejudices legitimate United Kingdom interests.