§ 14. Mr. C. WILLIAMSasked the President of the Board of Trade the figure of the total excess of imports over exports of merchandise consigned between this country and the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics between 1st October, 1929, and 31st March, 1931?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMThe figure is £36,771,202, as may be derived from the particulars given to the hon. Member in answer to his question of 7th July.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSWhy was the right hon. Gentleman so reluctant to give these figures the other day and to hide the tremendous adverse balance?
§ Mr. GRAHAMI was not reluctant. I was giving my hon. Friend the credit of being able to do a simple sum in addition.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSWhy did the right hon. Gentleman deny this figure to the public and the Press at that time?
§ 15. Mr. WILLIAMSasked the President of the Board of Trade if he has in- 219 formation and will give figures showing how the balance of trade has varied between the United States of America and the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics since 1st October, 1929?
§ Mr. GRAHAMI will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement showing, quarter by quarter, the value of merchandise imported into and exported from the United States in trade with the Soviet Union from the 1st October, 1929, to the 31st March, 1931, inclusive.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSAs the right hon. Gentleman has not given the total
| The following table shows the total declared value of merchandise imported into and exported from the United States in trade with the Soviet Union in each of the undermentioned quarters, conversions from the original currency (dollars) into sterling having been made at the approximate par rate of exchange. | ||||||
| Period. | Total Imports. | Total Exports. | Excess of Exports over Imports. | |||
| 1929. | £ | £ | £ | |||
| October—December | … | … | … | 1,184,000 | 5,950,000 | 4,766,000 |
| 1930. | ||||||
| January—March | … | … | … | 972,000 | 9,232,000 | 8,260,000 |
| April—June | … | … | … | 1,425,000 | 6,262,000 | 4,837,000 |
| July—September | … | … | … | 1,425,000 | 3,975,000 | 2,550,000 |
| October—December | … | … | … | 1,188,000 | 4,036,000 | 2,848,000 |
| 1931. | ||||||
| January—March | … | … | … | 539,000 | 9,049,000 | 8,510,000 |
| These figures are derived from the American Official Trade Statistics. | ||||||
| The excess of exports over imports represents the visible balance of trade. Information is not available in the Board of Trade to enable an estimate to be formed of the amount of the invisible items in the balance of trade. |