TRADE TALKS

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20738, 23 February 1939, Page 9

TRADE TALKS

BRITAIN AND RUSSIA PACT UNSATISFACTORY HOPES FOR A SETTLEMENT (United Press Assn.— Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Feb. 21 Any discussions during his visit to Moscow, which the secretary to the Department of Trade is making as one of a series of visits to various capitals in furtherance of the Government policy of increasing trade, will be of a general and exploratory character. He will be able to explain the difficulties experienced from the British side in working Hie present commercial arrangements between the two countries, as well as to hear from the Russian side what their difficulties may be.

The President of the Board of Trade. Mr Oliver Stanley, stated on a number of occasions, both in the House of Commons and to deputations, that the whole matter of Anglo-Russian trade was under review by his department, which did not regard the results of the last agreement as satisfactory.

The small use of British shipping and a tendency for Russia to take reexports from Britain, rather than goods of British origin, are among the matters which have been under criticism here.

MISSION TO RUMANIA

QUESTIONS IN THE COMMONS LORD SEMPILL’S NEGOTIATIONS (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Feb. 21 The President of the Board of Trade. Mr Oliver Stanley, asked in the House of Commons if he could state the uature of the agreement arrived at between Lord Sempill's trade mission to Rumania and Rumanian industrialists, replied that Lord Sempill’s visit was entirely a private undertaking, and he was not aware of any agreement he might have made with Rumanian industries.