HC Deb 10 February 1949 vol 461 cc509-10
14. Mr. Harold Davies

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has been able to purchase from Indonesia any sugar, other food or raw materials.

Mr. H. Wilson

Negotiations are in progress at the moment.

Mr. Davies

May I ask if any attempt has been made to point out to the Dutch the damaging effect of the blockade on European and world recovery?

Mr. Wilson

We are engaged in negotiating with the Dutch for the supply of important commodities both from Holland and Indonesia, and we have not been going into the kind of question raised by my hon. Friend.

Mr. Davies

In view of the figure given out by the Netherlands of a 275 per cent. increase in the production of crude oil in Indonesia, have the Government made any approach with the object of obtaining any of the Indonesian oil?

Mr. Wilson

I should not like to say what we have asked for and what we have not asked for. I can tell my hon. Friend that we have pressed for very considerable quantities of valuable exports and we have every hope of getting them if the agreement is reached.

Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas Moore

Might we not get more of these commodities if we were to facilitate the Dutch Government in crushing the anti-social elements in Indonesia, and thereby bringing peace to the country?