HL Deb 06 December 1938 vol 111 cc362-4WA
LORD PHILLIMORE

asked His Majesty's Government whether the following facts are substantially correct, and, if so, what steps have been taken to prevent similar breaches of the Non-Intervention Agreement in future:

1. Whether there were shipped from the ports of St. John (Nova Scotia) and Montreal during the months of April and May, 1938, cases containing 34 Grumann aeroplanes avowedly to the order of the Government of Turkey, on the boats "Hada County," "Brant County," and "August" of the "County Line Limited"?

2. Whether a further consignment of aeroplanes was disembarked by order of the Canadian Government on June 2, 1938, which had been shipped aboard the "Hada County"?

3. Whether the Secretary of State of the United States of America has since had an inquiry made and established that as a fact the Turkish Government had made no such contract, and that these aeroplanes were in fact purchased by an agent of the Republican Government of Spain and shipped to Le Havre or other French ports, sent across France to Marseilles, and thence transferred to Republican Spain?

4. Whether it is known to the British Government that exhibit No. 15,005 of the recent War Exhibition in San Sebastian of captured foreign armaments contains a specimen of the Grumann FF1. Chaser all-metal plane, that this plane shows clearly the plates bearing the name of a Canadian firm and other plates bearing United States of America names?

5. Whether Canada is a member of the Non-Intervention Committee?

6. Whether the whole transaction is not a breach of Orders in Council?

THE EARL OF PLYMOUTH

As regards parts (1), (2), (3), (4) and (6) of the Question, the only information in possession of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom regarding the facts of the incident to which the noble Lord refers is contained in the following statement issued on October 9 last by the Canadian Minister of National RevenueApplications were made by a Canadian manufacturer for permits to export thirty-four aeroplanes to the Turkish Government. The Department of National Revenue, having no discretion under the law to refuse permits to Turkey, in due course issued these permits. The representations contained in the applications were checked by officers of the Department, who having examined the documents relating to the purchase of the planes, found them all in order. Subsequently, owing to a request from the United States Government for information concerning these shipments, all documents pertaining to the order and the shipment of the planes were once more checked by departmental officials and found to be in order and it was verified that the aeroplanes and parts had been loaded on ships for export from Canada, in accordance with the terms of the permits, and that the bills of lading were properly drawn to cover shipment to Turkey. The United States Government was interested in the movement of parts of these planes which had been exported by the United States to Canada. The Turkish Government later made a statement to the effect that it did not authorise the placing of orders for these planes. It would appear, however, that the planes reached Spain, a country to which shipments are prohibited by Order in Council. There is no evidence before the Department of National Revenue, however, to indicate that the exporter acted in other than good faith in applying for permits for exports to Turkey.

As regards part 5, His Majesty's Government in Canada are not represented on the Non-Intervention Committee.