§ 61. Mr. Pickthornasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can make any statement about the effect on the United Kingdom export policy of the Lease-Lend Act?
§ Mr. LytteltonYes, Sir. This country needs more and more supplies of every kind from the United States. His Majesty's Government are grateful for the ungrudging aid which they have already received, and are fortified by the assurance which the Lease-Lend Act provides for continued supplies of essential goods. Our need for dollars, however, remains very great and anything which adds to our dollar earnings is a contribution of first-rate importance to our cause. That is one reason why His Majesty's Government still regard it as a necessity for this country to maintain and extend its exports to the United States, and continue to give every assistance to that trade. The extent to which this purpose can be achieved, of course, depends largely on the response of buyers in the United States, and I trust that they will continue to ask for our products. Experience will, I think, have demonstrated to them our ability to produce and deliver the goods and to maintain their traditional high quality.