§ 8. Major HUNTasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the Board of Trade statistics to the effect that we exported to Denmark from 1st January to 28th February in 1917 803,500 lbs. of cotton yarn, whilst in 1913 for the same dates we only exported 135,900 lbs., and of cotton manufactures we exported for the same months in 1917 11,966,200 yards, whilst for the same months in 1913 we only exported 2,983,500 yards, he can say why, after nearly three years of war, we are supplying a country adjoining Germany with such an extra amount of necessary 1802 goods for manufacturing war material; and what steps he is taking to prevent this state of affairs in the future?
§ Lord R. CECILThe figures quoted by the hon. and gallant Member take no account of pre-war imports into Denmark from other than British sources and give no true indication of the statistical position. The figures in possession of His Majesty's Government show that for the six months ending March 31st last the total Danish imports amounted, in the-case of cotton yarn, to 2,048,200 lbs. as against 1,992,500 lbs., and in the case of cotton piece goods to 22,283,700 yards as against 23,541,100 for the corresponding period of 1912–13, the higher figure of yarn being more than counterbalanced by the lower figure of piece goods. The second part of the question, therefore, does not arise.