HC Deb 05 April 1939 vol 345 cc2757-8
7. Mr. Mander

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the dependence of Germany on imports for the supply of such essential materials for rearmament as iron-ore, petroleum, copper, lead, sulphur, cotton, aluminium, rubber, manganese, nickel, chromite, tungsten, phosphates, antimony, tin, mercury and mica, he will enter into discussions with countries possessing such materials with a view to arranging for them to be withheld from Germany and any other country guilty of unprovoked aggression?

Mr. Butler

The commodities enumerated by the hon. Member are not in general used exclusively or even mainly for the purpose of rearmament. An arrangement to withhold them from certain countries would constitute in effect a form of sanctions, the imposition of which is no part of the present policy of His Majesty's Government.

Mr. Mander

Is it the case that the Government prefer military methods rather than peaceful economic pressure to prevent war?

Mr. Butler

I cannot accept the alteration which the hon. Member puts forward.

Mr. Mander

In view of the extreme importance of this matter in preventing war by peaceful methods, will not the Government give it more serious consideration than they are apparently prepared to do at the present time?

Mr. Butler

I can assure the hon. Member that the Government have given this question and similar questions very careful consideration.

Sir Joseph Lamb

On a point of Order. Is there any method whereby Supplementary Questions which would not be accepted at the Table can be excluded?

Mr. Speaker

The only way would be for me to call to order the Member who asks the Supplementary Question, which I sometimes do.

Mr. Mander

This is not the Reichstag.

Mr. Edwards

Is it not a fact that rearmament would be impossible without the materials enumerated?

Mr. Butler

Obviously, most of these materials are used for armaments.

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