§ 2. Mr. PENNEFATHERasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can state to what extent this country has facilitated the export trades of European neutrals during the past three months; and can he indicate what return we receive from each of these countries for giving them these transhipment facilities at a time when the full use of our shipping, quay space, railways and man-power are urgently required for purposes vital to the success of the Allies?
§ Captain Viscount WOLMER (War Trade Department)The total quantity of goods imported into this country from Sweden, Norway Denmark, Holland, Switzerland and Spain, and allowed to be transhipped, during the period 1st January to 31st March, 1918, amounted approximately to 22,355 tons. Transhipments are carefully regulated by a special committee of the War Trade Department, whose decisions are guided by considerations of home supplies, our obligations to our Allies, and the interests of British trade. Subject to these, it is the policy of His Majesty's Government to refrain from hindering the commerce of friendly neutrals.