§ RUSSIAN IMPORTS.
§ 13. Mr. Priceasked the Minister of Economic Warfare the quantities of aluminium, tin, rubber, copper and molybdenum imported by Russia for 12 months before the outbreak of war; and what comparison those figures bear to the quantities of these same articles imported through Vladivostock for the seven months since the outbreak of war?
§ The Minister of Economic Warfare (Mr. Cross)In the absence of official Soviet trade returns for any period later than November, 1938, it is not possible to give official figures for imports of the commodities referred to in the hon. Member's Question during the 12 months before the outbreak of war. The following figures extracted from the official statistics of exporting countries show the recorded exports to the U.S.S.R. during the period in question:
No reliable figures are available for aluminium or molybdenum and the above figures are not necessarily complete. Official statistics for exports to the U.S.S.R. during the seven months since the outbreak of war are not available, but according to my information exports to the U.S.S.R. of copper and rubber very considerably exceeded exports of these commodities during the previous 12 months and exports of tin and molybdenum were also very large. The whole of the exports of these commodities to the U.S.S.R. since the outbreak of war have been shipped to Vladivostock. Before the war no copper or tin was sent by this route, but a small proportion of the rubber imports probably passed through Vladivostock.
Tons. Copper and brass 62,400 Tin 7,890 Rubber 23,900
§ Mr. PriceWhile thanking the Minister for that statement, can he say whether any portion of these materials going into Russia is going to Germany?
§ Mr. CrossI have a good deal of reason to think that on statistical grounds, and also I have certain evidence that would indicate that some of these shipments have been sent to Germany.