§ 36. Sir. A. Southbyasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare to what extent supplies of all sorts are going from Sweden to Germany; and whether the transport of German troops through Sweden has now ceased.
§ Mr. FootSince the beginning of the war, Sweden has exported to Germany substantial quantities of iron ore, wood and wood pulp, paper, machinery, ball and roller bearings, ships, fishing vessels and skis. During the second half of 1943, there was a marked falling-off in certain exports, notably machinery, and Swedish exports to Germany in 1944 are expected to be considerably lower in almost every item, In particular, the new German-Swedish Trade Agreement recently signed 526 in Stockholm provides for large reductions, both in Swedish deliveries to Germany and also in corresponding German deliveries to Sweden. As regards the second part of the Question, the carriage of German war materials and troops through Sweden was brought to an end on 15th August and 20th August, 1943, respectively, and of German oil on 1st October, 1943.
§ Sir A. SouthbyIs my hon. Friend satisfied that no transport of troops is now going on; and will he bear continually in mind the attitude adopted by Sweden to Germany during the last war and this war?
§ Mr. FootThe answer to the first part of the supplementary question is, "Yes, Sir." As regards the second part, whatever may have happened in the last war or at an early stage in this war, the House will agree that this reduction in Swedish exports to Germany is, from our point of view, very satisfactory.