§ 9. Mr. JOELasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that imports into this country from the Dutch West Indies for the first quarter of this year amounted in value to £2,106,177, while our exports to those Islands only amounted to £61,688; and whether, in view of the fact that this abnormal adverse balance of trade has persisted for several years, any steps are now contemplated with a view to improving the position?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANConsiderations of balance of trade hardly arise in this case. Imports shown in the Trade Accounts as consigned to the United Kingdom from the Dutch West Indies consist almost exclusively of petroleum which, though refined there, originates elsewhere, and mainly in Venezuela.