HC Deb 24 May 1916 vol 82 cc2072-3
3. Mr. FELL

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Government have issued licences for the export from Germany to the United States of America of $5,000,000 worth of dyes, part of a shipment which may reach $30,000,000; and, if so, will he say why such licence was issued, seeing that this export must financially assist Germany?

5. Sir J. LONSDALE

asked if the British Government has been asked to allow a safe passage for 15,000 tons of dye-stuffs sold by Germany to the United States on condition that none of it is re-exported to Great Britain or her Allies; and what reply has been returned to this request?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Lord Robert Cecil)

The answer to both these questions is in the negative. Negotiations took place in April of 1915 in reference to two cargoes of dye-stuffs which His Majesty's Government were then willing to allow to be exported, but this offer was not taken advantage of, and must now be considered to have lapsed, and we so informed the American Government in a dispatch dated 22nd April of this year. We have since received a fresh proposal with reference to the export of dye-stuffs from the American Government. No reply has yet been sent to this proposal.

Sir J. LONSDALE

Is the Noble Lord aware that Germany's object is to improve her exchange with America, and is it to our interest that she should be allowed to do so?

Lord R. CECIL

I have very little doubt that what my hon. Friend says is accurate, and that that is the object of the German application for the export of these dye-stuffs. Unquestionably it is not to our interest to allow that to take place, and I will bear that consideration very carefully in mind in any reply sent to the American Government.

Sir J. LONSDALE

Will the Noble Lord give an assurance to the House that that permission shall not be granted?

Lord R. CECIL

I do not think it would be courteous to the United States to give any assurance to the House about any reply sent to them, certainly until we have actually sent it, but I can assure my hon. Friend what he says and what is the general feeling of the House will be borne in mind in any reply that is sent.

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