§ 19. Mr. A. Edwardsasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he is aware that increasing quantities of essential metals are being supplied to potentially hostile countries by British Dominions; and whether he will inform these Dominions that such trading is affecting the defensive measures taken by His Majesty's Government in this country and jeopardising the safety of the British Empire?
§ Sir T. InskipIn the absence of detailed indication of the particular metals and particular countries, both of export and of import, to which the hon. Member refers, I am unable to reply to the first part of the question. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.
§ Mr. EdwardsDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that Germany purchased in the first two months of this year five times as much nickel as in the first two months last year, and will he not advise the Dominions that the aggressor nations would not be of the slightest danger unless the Dominions supplied raw material to them?
§ Sir T. InskipI understand that the hon. Member has a question on the Paper to-day about nickel. His question to me was about all metals.
§ Sir Frank SandersonAre any restrictions being put on the exportation of metals from this country?
§ Mr. Herbert MorrisonAre we to understand that His Majesty's Government are quite indifferent to the supply of raw materials to potential enemy countries from British sources?
§ Sir T. InskipThe question to which the right hon. Gentleman refers was dealt with by the Prime Minister a short time ago in a Parliamentary answer. The question to-day is in reference to representations to the Dominions. I am not prepared to make representations to the Dominions inconsistent with the action we take in this country.
§ Mr. MorrisonAre we to understand that it is the intention of this Government to maintain the policy of this country, and to encourage the Dominions to supply raw materials for war purposes to countries as to whose intentions we are gravely apprehensive?
§ Sir T. InskipThere is no question of encouraging the Dominions.
§ Mr. DaltonThe Australian Government have prohibited the export of iron ore, and why cannot we follow the good example of that country?
§ Mr. Graham WhiteWould not a refusal to supply essential materials to certain countries give some justification to the theory of encirclement?
§ Sir Joseph LambMight not the Dominions be asked to give full priority to our own requirements?
§ Sir T. InskipThere is, as far as I am aware, no evidence of any disinclination on the part of the Dominions to give us all the materials they can send to us.
§ Miss WilkinsonDoes the right hon. Gentleman think it is justifiable to ask the youth of this country to agree to conscription if he is not going to curb capitalists?
33. Captain Cazaletasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give the figures for the total exports and re-exports from the United Kingdom of the following materials: pig-iron, scrap-iron, steel, tin, and lead for the first quarter of 1939; and what proportion of these exports and re-exports went to Germany, Italy and Japan, respectively?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade (Mr. Cross)As the answer involves a number of figures I will, with my hon. and gallant Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
| Table showing the total declared value of exports from the United Kingdom of the under-mentioned commodities during the three months ended March, 1939, distinguishing the amounts consigned to Germany, Italy and Japan, respectively. | |||||
| Description. | Exports to all destinations. | Total exports consigned to | |||
| United Kingdom goods. | Imported merchandise. | Germany. | Italy. | Japan. | |
| £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | |
| Iron and steel — | |||||
| Scrap and waste, fit only for the recovery of metal. | 150 | — | 65 | 8 | 1 |
| Pig iron | 120 | — | 32 | 2 | — |
| Ingots, blooms, billets and slabs of steel. | 27 | (a) | — | — | — |
| Tin blocks, ingots, bars and slabs | 1,111 | 35 | 5 | 31 | — |
| Lead, unwrought, in pigs, ingots, blocks, bars, slabs and cakes. | 22 | 48 | 2 | — | — |
| (a) £7 only. |
35. Mr. Vyvyan Adamsasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, seeing that certain essential raw materials exist within the British Empire of which there is only a limited supply, he can give an assurance that steps are being taken to secure the exclusive supply to this country in the event of the outbreak of hostilities?
§ Mr. CrossI can assure my hon. Friend that very close attention is being given to the steps which could be taken to secure to this country in an emergency adequate supplies of the essential raw materials produced within the Empire. Due consideration, of course, must also be given both to the requirements of other parts of the Empire and of the producing countries.
§ Mr. H. G. WilliamsI assume that the same consideration will be given to those countries who may be allied to us?
§ Mr. ManderIs it not reasonable to take steps before the outbreak of hostilities rather than after?
§ Mr. CrossThe hon. Member is suggesting a form of sanctions in peace time, which is not the policy of the Government.
Captain CazaletMay I ask whether the figures show any appreciable increase over any previous quarter?
§ Following is the answer:
§ Mr. ManderI understand that the Government prefer purely military methods rather than peaceful economic sanctions.
§ 37. Mr. Edwardsasked the President of the Board of Trade how much nickel was imported by Germany in January and February this year, giving comparative figures for last year; and how much of it was sold to them by Canada?
§ Mr. CrossDuring January and February, 1939, imports of crude and scrap nickel into Germany amounted to 691 metric tons, compared with 900 metric tons in the corresponding period of1938; of these totals, 109 metric tons and 191 metric tons, respectively, were recorded as of Canadian origin.
§ Miss WilkinsonHow does the hon. Member square that answer with the one he gave to a supplementary on Question 33, that the figures show no appreciable increase?
§ Mr. EdwardsIs the hon. Member aware that the figures he has given are not accurate, and will he look into them again?
§ Mr. CrossThe information I have given is in regard to nickel. Perhaps the hon. Member has nickel ore in mind?
§ Mr. EdwardsHas the hon. Member the figures with regard to nickel ore?
§ Mr. CrossYes, I have the figures. From January to February, 1938, they were 2,077 tons, and for the similar period during the current year 9,577 tons, of which 1,523 tons came from Canada in the first period and 2,091 in the second period.
§ Mr. EdwardsIs it not a fact that practically the whole of this came from Canada originally and went to other countries on its way to Germany?
§ Mr. H. MorrisonAre we to take it from the reply that it is the policy of His Majesty's Government to encourage the Dominions actively to assist in German rearmament?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerSurely His Majesty's Government are making efforts comparable to those of Germany to build up war reserves?
§ Mr. CrossI cannot say whether they are comparable with those of Germany. We are guided entirely by our own policy. Reserves of that kind are being acquired.