HC Deb 14 April 1915 vol 71 cc4-5
3. Mr. PETO

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the fact that in Articles 27 and 28 of the Declaration of London raw cotton wool and yarns of the same are placed upon the free list as not susceptible of use in War, and in view of the. Government having, by proclamation published in the London Gazette of 12th March, placed wool and woollen and worsted yarns on the list of absolute contraband, they intend to extend the list of absolute contraband to raw cotton and yarns of the same; and, if not, whether he can state the reason for this distinction between wool and woollen yarns and cotton and cotton yarns?

Mr. PRIMROSE

After careful consideration it was found that the military advantage to be gained from declaring cotton to be contraband were insufficient to render such a step expedient. The reasons were explained in the reply given to the hon. Member for Nottingham on the 4th February.