§ 24. Commander Sir Archibald Southbyasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare to what extent war material, other than raw materials, is being supplied to Germany from Sweden?
§ Mr. FootUnder Swedish law the export of war material is forbidden except under licence. The definition of war material for this purpose is contained in a Royal Decree dated 20th June, 1935, and includes warships, mines, torpedoes, aircraft, bombs, tanks, armour plate, guns, machine guns and explosives. As regards the manufacture in Swedish yards on German account of vessels capable of being used as minesweepers, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given on 25th February by my right hon. Friend the First Lord of the Admiralty to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Ayr Burghs (Sir T. Moore). Otherwise we have been assured by the Swedish Government that, since the beginning of the war, no licences have been granted for the export to Germany of any of the articles mentioned in the Royal Decree. But, in addition to raw materials, Swedish exports to Germany do include certain classes of goods which, while they do not fall within the strict category of war materials, may be used cither for civil or military purposes.
§ Sir A. SouthbyWill the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that during the last war there was every reason to believe that war materials, such as torpedoes, were manufactured in Sweden and shipped direct to Germany in spite of assurances then given; will he also bear in mind that any ship is capable of mine sweeping, and will he further bear in mind when the war comes to an end the attitude adopted by Sweden and also remember the attitude of Norway?
§ Mr. FootThose considerations are, of course, constantly in mind in my Department, but I ought to say that we have no evidence to show that the assurances to which I have referred have not been kept.