HC Deb 04 May 1939 vol 346 c2072
74. Mr. Mander

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider the advisability, with a view to the prevention of the supply to potential enemies of essential materials required for war purposes, of introducing legislation to secure that such materials shall in appropriate cases be purchased by the British Government, or a general embargo placed on exports to all foreign countries?

Mr. Stanley

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to him on Tuesday last.

Mr. Mander

Would not the difficulty be got over by purchases by the British Government or by a general embargo which affects all countries equally?

Mr. Stanley

The British Government will purchase all that it needs of these materials for its purposes, but I think that to impose a general embargo on the world on an enormous quantity of raw materials, thereby bringing the trade of the world to a standstill, would be lamentable.

Mr. Mander

What steps are the Government taking to prevent raw materials that could be used against us from being supplied to Germany?