§ 43. Mr. Lathanasked the Minister of Economic Warfare whether any Customs barrier exists between occupied and unoccupied France; and whether goods can pass freely between these two territories?
§ Mr. DaltonThere is no Customs barrier between these two territories, nor, so far as I am aware, any obstacle to the movement of goods from unoccupied to occupied France. But, under Article 17 of the Armistice between Germany and France, the French Government undertook to prevent the transfer of economic valuables or stocks from occupied to unoccupied territory.
§ Mr. LathanAm I to gather that there is no difficulty in the way of the Germans in the occupied territory sending food to the unoccupied territory?
§ Mr. DaltonMy hon. Friend is quite correct: there is no reason at all why the Germans should not send food to those whom they have subjugated. On the other hand, my hon. Friend will observe that what has been set up here is a kind of one-way traffic, whereby, although goods may move freely from the so-called unoccupied area to the occupied area, there are obstacles imposed in the way of movement in the other direction.
§ Mr. LevyWould it not be true to say that any food supplies from the unoccupied part could be taken by Germany into the occupied part, if anybody were silly enough to supply them with the opportunity?
§ Mr. DaltonYes, Sir. My hon. Friend has very accurately stated the position.