2.
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Czecho-Slovak Government have recently completed a commercial treaty which gives certain preferences to goods of French manufacture imported into their country; whether they have made proposals to the British Government for a similar treaty, but owing to objection raised by his Department to the effect that any such treaty might interfere with the working of the Safeguarding of Industries Act the suggested treaty has not been concluded; and, if this is so, whether he is prepared to receive the views of traders as to the injurious effects which such a refusal may have on the export of British manufactured goods to Czecho-Slovakia?
The Commercial Convention of 4th November, 1920, gives no preferential treatment to French goods in the matter of customs duties in Czecho-Slovakia, but it includes provisions for the grant of licences for the importation into Czecho-Slovakia of certain classes of French goods and for the exportation of certain goods from Czecho-Slovakia into France. Negotiations with Czecho-Slovakia are in progress, and my right hon. Friend will be happy to consider any information bearing on the matter which may be placed before him.