§ 2. Sir J. D. REESasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the only jute mills on the Continent of Europe are in Germany, so that jute is useless to Spain, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, and Switzerland except for sale to Germany; whether any harm to the legitimate trade of these countries can result from declaring jute to be contraband of war; and whether, in view of its importance as a factor in war making and of the fact that the Government of India nevertheless permitted its export to Italy, steps will be taken to formally and immediately declare it contraband of war?
Mr. BALFOURAccording to my information there are jute mills or other means of utilising raw jute in all the neutral countries mentioned and also in Norway. His Majesty's Government have, and exercise, complete control over all exports of jute to neutral countries, so that to declare jute contraband of war would add nothing to the means at our disposal for preventing its reaching enemy countries.