HC Deb 25 March 1941 vol 370 cc403-6
6. Mr. Mander

asked the Minister of Economic Warfare what steps are being taken to prevent the passage of goods to France from all overseas destinations; and whether he will give an assurance that there will be no weakening in the blockade as a result of German pressure on the Vichy Government?

The Minister of Economic Warfare (Mr. Dalton)

Ships carrying unnavi-certed cargo for France are liable to be intercepted by our patrols, and a number of ships entering the Mediterranean with such cargoes have been intercepted. As a result of discussions between the United States Government and the French Government which have been carried on in consultation with His Majesty's Government it has been agreed that the American Red Cross should send two gift cargoes of flour to Unoccupied France. His Majesty's Government have agreed to issue navicerts for these two ships. This flour is intended only for Unoccupied France. Its distribution there will be under effective American control, which will ensure that it is consumed in that area. The French Government for their part have given to the United States Government an undertaking that no similar or equivalent foodstuffs will be exported from the unoccupied to the occupied zone. The agreement of His Majesty's Government to these two shipments of flour does not, of course, imply that under present conditions they would be prepared to issue navicerts for the import into France of other supplies.

Mr. Mander

Does my right hon. Friend consider that the French Government are in any position to give a guarantee that the food will not be sent to Germany? Is he aware that in three weeks in December-January last, 200,000 tons of merchandise were landed at Marseilles, and can he give an assurance that that sort of thing will not be permitted in the future, as a great part of it is certain to reach Germany?

Mr. Dalton

The guarantee given by the French Government that these particular shipments will not pass to Germany is to be subject to supervision by an American Commission in Unoccupied France. The other matters raised by my hon. Friend arise, I think, in connection with a later Question.

Sir Joseph Lamb

Does not this relieve the Germans of their obligation to feed France?

Mr. Leach

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if it can be denied that these two consignments will actually help Germany?

Mr. Dalton

That is a matter for argument.

Commander Sir Archibald Southby

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the weapon of blockade is only useful if it is applied ruthlessly?

Mr. Dalton

Yes, Sir.

Mr. Shinwell

In view of the fact that this is a very important matter, may I ask whether it is proposed to confine the decision to this isolated instance, or are there to be further provisions? Does the right hon. Gentleman not appreciate that this may have the effect of prolonging the war?

Mr. Dalton

So far, the information I have given to the House is complete. Pending any further consultations or discussions, the agreement of His Majesty's Government is limited to the two particular shipments which I have named in my answer. That is where we stand to-day.

Mr. Thorne

In consequence of the very great shortage of food in some parts of France, does the right hon. Gentleman think that they will be able to send any of that food away themselves?

Sir J. Lamb

May I have an answer to my question as to whether this does not relieve Germany of an obligation which is theirs in view of their hold on the country?

Mr. Dalton

I think my hon. Friend understands the facts as well as I do. The conclusions to be drawn from them are a matter for debate.

9. Dr. Russell Thomas

asked the Minister of Economic Warfare whether he is satisfied that the imports received by unoccupied France from French North Africa are not used by the enemy; and whether he has any information as to the nature and quantity of such imports?

Mr. Dalton

A proportion of the imports into unoccupied France from French North Africa is undoubtedly made over to the enemy. Complete particulars of Such imports are not available, but they are known to include considerable quantities of foodstuffs.

Mr. Mander

May I ask my right hon. Friend what steps he has taken to prevent this sort of thing going on, and whether it is not a fact that 200,000 tons of goods, a great part of which went to Germany, were permitted to enter Marseilles, in three weeks in December and January, and is this sort of thing going to be tolerated by the Government?

Mr. Dalton

The figures that my hon. Friend referred to were published, I think, in a paper called "Le Semaphore," and if it is true, as that paper stated, that 289,000 tons of cargo did arrive at Marseilles from all destinations during all that period, my hon. Friend will realise that the phrase "all destinations" includes the North African ports. As long ago as July last, I informed the House, in a Reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Lipson), that since France fell out of the war certain consequences were obvious in the Western basin on the Mediterranean which, while France was our Ally, was looked after by the French naval patrol.

Mr. Shinwell

Way I ask whether this leakage in the blockade is designed, or is it unavoidable?

Mr. Dalton

That is a rather general question. The Question I was asked related to the question of the Western basin, with regard to which I think my hon. Friend will have understood the sense of the answer I have given that since France fell out of the war the Western basin has presented peculiar difficulties.

Sir William Davison

Has the atention of the Government been drawn to the facts he mentioned a few moments ago, namely, as to the food from the French Colonies going to Germany instead of going to France to relieve the situation there?

Mr. Dalton

The Government are well aware and have information to show that a certain proportion of these imports does reach the enemy.

Sir A. Southby

If the Vichy Government have any exportable surplus coming in from Northern Africa, why is there any reason why we should allow other goods to go in from America?

Mr. Dalton

The term "exportable surplus" is strictly to be used in regard to French North Africa—from which these exports come. It is not to be used in respect of unoccupied France as a whole. They have not got an exportable surplus in this same sense in normal times.

Sir A. Southby

Is it not a fact that if the French Government are able to pass on to Germany goods which they export from Northern Africa, there can be no reason why we should allow goods to go into them?

Sir J. Lamb

Can the right hon. Gentleman explain how it is that British sailors lose their lives only for politicians to break the blockade they have made?