§ 7. Mr. ANEURIN BEVANasked the President of the Board of Trade the amount and the value of nickel imported into Germany from Canada for the years 1933 and 1934, respectively, and for the first three months of 1935 as compared with the first quarters of 1933 and 1934, and the amount and value which was exported direct to Germany and exported via Rotterdam, respectively; and whether, in view of the large proportion of capital held by British nationals in the firms involved, he will consider taking steps, in conjunction with His Majesty's Government in Canada, to prevent the continued participation of British firms in the rearmament of Germany.
§ Mr. RUNCIMANAs regards the first part of the question, I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement giving such information as is available. I am not aware of the proportion of the capital of nickel-producing firms that is held by British subjects. For the rest I can only refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Dumbarton Burghs (Mr. Kirkwood) by my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal on 14th May.
§ Mr. COCKSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that by refusing to take any steps in this direction he is playing into the hands of Herr Hitler.
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI am not aware of that.
§ Following is the statement:
§ STATEMENT showing the total quantity and value of crude and scrap nickel (and nickel coin) imported into Germany during the periods stated and recorded as of Canadian origin.
| — | 100 kg. | 1,000 R.M. | |
| Year— | |||
| 1933 | … | 6,885 | 2,131 |
| 1934 | … | 11,037 | 3,441 |
| January-March— | |||
| 1933 | … | 612 | (a) |
| 1934 | … | 3,893 | 1,312 |
| 1935 | … | — | — |
| Not available |
§ NoTE.—It is not possible to state the proportions imported direct and via Rotterdam, but a considerable proportion of the imports is not consigned direct from Canada to Germany.
§ 24. Mr. BEVANasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has any information as to the designs or patents under which the submarines now under construction in Germany are being built; and whether such designs or patents are exclusively of German origin or obtained by agreement or licence from any other country.
The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Sir Bolton Eyres Monsell)The Admiralty has no information concerning these German submarines except that their displacement has been officially reported by Germany as 250 tons.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENWould you not ask Hitler for the plans?