§ 20. Major HUNTasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Denmark has supplied this country with the 1883 quantities of goods stipulated under the agreement; and, if not, what steps does he propose to take to keep Denmark to her agreement in the future and recover the goods not supplied in the past?
Commander HARRISThere is no agreement such as the hon. Member assumes to regulate Danish imports into the United Kingdom.
§ 21. Major HUNTasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Danish slaughter companies have been sending to Germany about 39 per cent, of the production instead of 14 per cent. As agreed upon; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?
Commander HARRISI would refer the hon. Member to the answer I have just given to his previous question.
§ 22. Major HUNTasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the London Chamber of Commerce instructed its members not to send goods to neutrals without obtaining adequate guarantees that the goods were for home consumption only, and when, on a protest being made by the commercial community of Denmark, the Foreign Office instructed the London Chamber of Commerce that they must not interfere, why the Foreign Office interfered, in view of the fact that the Danes have not kept their agreement and have failed to supply us with the produce stipulated; can he say why the Foreign Office protects the Danes against our own people; and will he have this policy reversed at once?
Commander HARRISI understand that the London Chamber of Commerce have advised their members who may be exporting goods to Denmark that, in order to comply with the Customs (War Powers) Act, 1915, Section 1, they should obtain personal guarantees from their Danish consignees, in addition to those given to His Majesty's Government by the Danish Chamber of Manufacturers' and Merchants' Guild. The Foreign Office have not, as suggested by the hon. Member, "instructed the London Chamber of Commerce that they must not interfere," but have simply asked to see the circular in which the above recommendation was made, and the Chamber's reasons for issuing it.
§ 25. Major HUNTasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether there 1884 are now a number of cargo steamers loaded up with feeding stuffs for Denmark in British ports; and, if so, will they be allowed to go to Denmark to supply food for animals destined for German consumption when our farmers are so badly off for feeding stuffs for our own animals?
Commander HARRISYes, Sir. The grant of clearance to these vessels is being made dependent on the supply to this country of satisfactory quantities of Danish agricultural produce. I would add that the cargoes of these vessels have not been loaded in the United Kingdom, but have come from overseas.
§ Major HUNTSeeing that Denmark has failed to forward the supplies she promised, why does the Foreign Office continue to allow these goods to go into Denmark?
§ Mr. PETOHow does the hon. Gentleman reconcile his answer to Question 25 with that he has just given to No. 20, namely, that there is no arrangement whatever in regard to the export of Danish produce to this country?
§ Colonel YATEIs it not the fact that the exports of linseed cake to Denmark is the cause of the enormous rise in the price of these articles in this country?
Commander HARRISNo, Sir; the feeding stuffs referred to are not from this country to Denmark, but from foreign countries
§ Colonel YATECould you not, when they come here, keep them here for the benefit of our own country?