JAPAN’S TRADE DRIVE

Evening Star, Issue 21583, 1 December 1933, Page 9

JAPAN’S TRADE DRIVE

DISCUSSION IN COMMONS MINISTER'S DISPASSIONATE STATEMENT (British Official WirolCii.) Prois Association— By Telegraph—Copyright RUGBY, November 20. Speaking iu the House of Commons during the debate on the effect on export trade of Japanese competition, Mr Walter Runciman (President of the Board of Trade) said that the G overnnient for a very long time had been kept fully informed of tb© position in Lancashire, When the question was last before the House the Government expressed itself in favour of an attempt to rectify matters being made by the industrialists themselves in the first place, and it had been justified by what had happened in India during the last four months. The fall of imports of English cloths into India was one of the greatest problems to be faced. The Indian boycott was now over and Lancashire was about to regain some portion of the market she had lost. Fortunately the industrialists who went to India were able to reach an agreement with the cotton producers. Japan was a very large importer into India, and the imports had been going up year by year. The Indian Government was very much alive to the situation, and was in closest consultation with representatives of Japan. If there had been any delay in these negotiations it had not been the fault of the British Government.

Referring to unfair competition, based on the infringement of designs and trade marks, Mr Runciman said this was a matter which gave cause for a good deal of trouble, not in this country so much as elsewhere. In some portions of the British Empire, however, goods had been imported from Japan bearing British names and British trade marks. That was a form of dishonesty which any Government ought to do its best to suppress. If it was necessary to take steps the Government was prepared to take them, but he hoped that by making representations the necessary impression would be made on the minds of those in control of Japanese commercial affairs. He could not see that there would be any advantage to the Lancashire industry if they began, as was suggested in some quarters, by abrogating the AngloJapanese treaty, which affected some thirty other countries in the British Empire. He preferred first to exhaust all other means, but if they found it necessary to denounce the treaty then be would consider the whole subject from a different point of view, and with quite a different intent.