HC Deb 01 August 1939 vol 350 cc2127-30
6. Mr. Arthur Henderson

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, with a view to assisting China, His Majesty's Government propose to give any guarantee for the purchase of United Kingdom goods by the Chinese Government on the lines of agreements made between His Majesty's Government and other foreign Governments?

The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Oliver Stanley)

As stated by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary on 6th March, and by my right hon. Friend the Secretary to the Department of Overseas Trade on 14th July in the Debate on the Overseas Trade Guarantees Bill, a proposal to give guarantees for the benefit of British manufacturers in respect of exports to China has been under negotiation for some time. Certain technical and legal questions are still under consideration.

Mr. Henderson

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when he expects to be able to make a statement on this matter?

Mr. Stanley

I cannot say when. There are these technical and legal questions, the settlement of some of which depends on the answers received from China.

Mr. Henderson

Is it not the fact that the question is of great importance to the Chinese Government because of the very limited purchases they have been able to make during the last 18 months; and is it not of great importance that this matter should be expedited?

Mr. Stanley

As I have said, the settlement of some of the questions at least depends on the answers received from them.

13. Major-General Sir Alfred Knox

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of the munitions, non-ferrous metals, rubber, and oil imported by China in the last two years, and the sources of supply?

Mr. Stanley

As the answer involves a tabular statement, I will, with my hon. and gallant Friend's permission, circulate it in the Official Report.

Sir A. Knox

Is it not a fact that the bulk of these imports come from the axis Powers?

Mr. Stanley

My hon. and gallant Friend will see a long list of figures. He can make his own deductions.

Following is the statement:

Table showing the value of non-ferrous metals, rubber and mineral oils imported into China in the years 1937 and 1938, distinguishing the principal sources of supply, so far as specified in the Official Chinese Trade Returns.
Commodity and Country. 1937 1938.
Non-ferrous Metals: Thousand Gold Units. Thousand Gold Units.
Aluminium: Ingots, slabs, grains, sheets and plates—
Total … … … … … … … 1,120 1,010
Of which from:
Canada … … … … … … 380 417
Germany … … … … … … 281 110
Switzerland … … … … … 106 386
Norway … … … … … … 258 79
Brass and Yellow metal: Ingots, bars, rods, sheets, plates, tubes and scrap—
Total … … … … … … … 1,278 466
Of which from:
Germany … … … … … … 830 371
Japan … … … … … … 330 19
Copper: Ingots, slabs, bars, rods, sheets, plates, tubes and; scrap—
Total … … … … … … … 2,332 592
Of which from:
United States … … … … … 1,565 249
Germany … … … … … … 350 241
Japan … … … … … … 337 80
Lead: Pigs, bars, sheets, pipes and scrap—
Total … … … … … … … 633 315
Of which from:
Canada … … … … … … 397 247
Australia … … … … … … 50 8
Japan … … … … … … 47 15
United Kingdom … … … … … 31 16
Tin: Ingots and slabs—
Total … … … … … … … 117 226
Of which from:
British Malaya … … … … … 98 117
Hong Kong … … … … … 7 32
United Kingdom … … … … … 10 24
Zinc: Powder, spelter, sheets and plates—
Total … … … … … … … 1,585 372
Of which from:
Belgium … … … … … … 824 234
Canada … … … … … … 443 89
Nickel:
Total … … … … … … … 101 25
Of which from:
United Kingdom … … … … … 43 21
Canada … … … … … … 27 —
Japan … … … … … … 11 (a)
India-rubber, crude, old or waste, and Gutta Percha, Crude—
Total … … … … … … … 4,066 1,992
Of which from:
Netherlands East Indies … … … … … 1,812 568
British Malaya … … … … … 1,357 737
United States … … … … … 204 310
French Indo-China … … … … 422 123
Mineral Oils—
Total … … … … … … … 44,040 30,442
Of which from:
Netherlands East Indies … … … … 25,458 12,475
United States … … … … … 16,592 16,123
(a) Less than 500 gold units.
Particulars of imports of munitions are not available, such imports being excluded from the Official Trade Returns.
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