SWEDISH BALL-BEARINGS (EXPORT TO GERMANY) (Hansard, 26 April 1944)

§ Mr. Molson
(by Private Notice) asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare, whether he has any statement to make regarding the export of Swedish ball-bearings to Axis Europe.

§ Mr. G. Strauss
On a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. As I have a Question down to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs asking what has been the result of our representations to Sweden, among other countries, about the export of vital war materials to Germany, how is it in Order that a Private Notice Question should be asked on the same subject?

§ Mr. Speaker
I understood the Foreign Secretary to say that the reply to that Question would be given in the answer to the Private Notice Question.

§ Mr. Strauss
He said that a statement would be made about it, but my point is: how can it be in Order for a Private Notice Question to be put on the same subject as a Question on the Paper on the same day?

§ Mr. Speaker
That escaped my notice but I think the hon. Member's Question was a combined one, which referred to other countries as well as Sweden.

§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare (Mr. Dingle Foot)
Yes, Sir. As reported in the Press, the United States Minister in Stockholm on 13th April last presented a Note to the Swedish Foreign Minister, calling attention to the great value to Germany of supplies of Swedish ball and roller bearings, and requesting the Swedish 775 Government to prohibit such exports. He was accompanied by His Majesty's Minister, who fully associated himself with the terms of the American Note. I understand that the Soviet Government has since done the same.
I greatly regret that the Swedish Government, whose reply was handed to the two Ministers on Saturday last, have not seen their way to meet our request. It is quite true, as the reply states, that the present level of such exports is not inconsistent with the terms of the revised War Trade Agreement signed in London last year. It does not follow, however, as has been suggested in certain quarters, that we have therefore in any way approved these exports to the enemy or that we are debarred from asking for further reductions. I wish to make it clear that His Majesty's Government, whose views on this subject are shared by the United States Government, cannot regard this as a satisfactory reply. This is a matter to which we attach very great importance. Since August last, the destruction in Axis Europe of plants producing ball and roller bearings has been one of the principal objectives of the bomber offensive. The Allied Air Forces, and particularly the United States Strategic Air Forces, have made, at considerable cost, no less than twenty major attacks on Schweinfurt, Steyr, Erkner, Turin and other centres of the enemy's ball-bearing production. During the same period there have been 35 heavy night attacks by Bomber Command on cities and towns which are importent centres of ball-bearing manufacture. Evidence showing the success of these operations has reached us from many sources and there can be little doubt that ball-bearing production not only in Germany but in satellite and occupied countries as well has been very seriously reduced. This in turn affects the output of aircraft, tanks and vehicles of all kinds. Therefore we regard the Swedish supplies even at their present reduced level as relatively more important to the enemy than ever before.
His Majesty's Government and the United States Government are now considering the Swedish reply, but they certainly do not regard this question as closed.

§ Sir A. Southby
May I ask the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of 776 Economic Warfare whether, after the Government have considered the Swedish reply, he will make another statement to the House on the subject, bearing in mind that Sweden appears to be running true to her form of the last war?