Mr. Donald M. Fleming (Eglinton):

May I

ask the Prime Minister if this is an order in council passed under section 21 of the Export Credits Insurance Act-in other words, one not in the ordinary course of business of the corporation?

Mr. St. Laurent:

It is under section 21 of the act, yes.

Hon. George A. Drew (Leader of the Opposition):

Mr. Speaker, while this might be a question that might more properly be asked on the orders of the day, it might be simpler to ask it now. Would the Prime Minister tell us, in view of the fact that there was some time lapse between the decision and the actual order, whether there are any other decisions of a similar nature, of which we have not yet been informed, but which require orders in council under section 21 of the Export Credits Insurance Act.

Mr. St. Laurent:

No. There were no other decisions made. There had been no other application for a decision. There was a question at the time of there also being the possibility of a sale of wheat being arranged

with Hungary, but it had not reached the stage where it was felt that a decision was necessary.

Mr. Drew:

Would that be under terms

similar to those accorded to Poland?

Mr. St. Laurent:

Yes, the original-

Mr. Drew:

I mean in regard to the advance.

Mr. St. Laurent:

Yes, the original suggestion was that there would be a cash payment of only 10 per cent. We found that was not sufficient, and decided that they would be informed that if there was a cash payment of 15 per cent an insurance policy for the payment of the balance within 12 months could be authorized.

Mr. Fleming:

Mr. Speaker, may I ask the Prime Minister in relation to the matter discussed earlier, namely the order in council passed under section 21 of the Export Credits Insurance Act, whether the government satisfied itself that the government of Poland was not in a position to pay cash for the wheat that was sold?

Mr. St. Laurent:

Well, we satisfied ourselves that whether they were in a position to pay cash or not they would not have made the deal on a cash basis. Their representations were to the effect that they did not have the dollars immediately available but would have them available in the 12 months, and we insisted that there be at least a cash payment on delivery of 15 per cent.

Mr. Drew:

Mr. Speaker, in relation to the question asked by the hon. member for Eglinton, might I ask the Prime Minister this question? In view of certain press comments on this subject, is an effort being made to outbid the United States in the disposition of wheat and foodstuffs? I have before me as an example the report of the financial editor of the Toronto Telegram of July 6 which points out that this is one of the greatest loss-leader sales in history, referring to the Czechoslovakia transaction, and suggests-I do not want to go further than that-that Mr. Gardiner is conducting a series of loss-leader transactions by way of retaliation for the procedure adopted in the United States. I think if there is anything in that we should know it.

Mr. G. H. Castleden (Yorkton):

I should like to direct a question to the Minister of Trade and Commerce. Perhaps in his absence the parliamentary assistant will take it as notice. What arrangements have been made to permit producers to deliver their final quota of grain, as announced yesterday by the minister, to the elevator of their own choice?

Mr. J. H. Dickey (Parliamentary Assistant lo the Minister of Trade and Commerce):

The

question will be taken as notice and drawn to the minister's attention.