§ 7. Mr. Garro Jonesasked the Minister of Economic Warfare whether he is aware that in August, 1940, there was imported into Japan seven times as much ordinary petrol as in August, 1939; that the extraction from this petrol of aviation spirit defeats the United States of America ban on the export to Japan of 87 octane fuel; and whether he has taken any action or made any representations to the United States of America Government on this matter?
§ Mr. DaltonNo figures for Japanese imports are published by the Japanese Government. Figures published by the United States Government show that exports to Japan of motor and aviation spirit combined were about 13,000 tons in August, 1940, compared with about 2,500 tons in August. 1939. It is, of course, possible for spirit rated below 87 octane to be brought up to aviation grade by the addition of tetra-ethyl of lead. This question has for some time been under discussion between His Majesty's Government and the United States Government.
§ Mr. Garro JonesIs the Minister aware that his facts bear out the suggestion made in the first part of my Question? In view of the enormous amount of ordinary petrol pouring into Japan at the present time and being stored, possibly to our detriment, will he expedite the negotiations with the United States?
§ Mr. DaltonMy hon. Friend's arithmetic was not quite correct, but I can assure him the matter is very much in our mind.
§ Mr. Robert GibsonMy right hon. Friend merely quotes the figure of exports from America to Japan, but has he the figures for the exports from the West Indies?
§ Mr. DaltonI answered the Question on the Order Paper, but if my hon. and learned Friend wishes to have an answer to another question, I will try and give it to him if he puts it on the Order Paper.