HC Deb 28 November 1917 vol 99 c1989
21. Major HUNT

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that at a mass meeting of the munition workers at Messrs. Armstrong and Whitworth a strong resolution was passed demanding that the transfer of Kellner-Partington's Company to a foreign syndicate should be stopped, as the sale will have a morally prejudicial effect on munition workers who have made so many sacrifices for the War, and further that the transfer will result in supplying our enemies with munitions and other military necessities; and whether, under these circumstances, he will at once forbid this transfer to this foreign syndicate?

Lord R. CECIL

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. To the second I have already explained, in answer to questions, all the circumstances of the case, and have nothing I can usefully add.

Major HUNT

Is there not a perfectly new German invention by which chemical wood pulp can be made to produce high explosives of enormous value to our enemies?

Mr. SPEAKER

Order, order. The Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs is not an expert on the manufacture of explosives.