§ 16. Sir W. Smithersasked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the fact that the United States Government has stopped the export of war material to China, Hong Kong and Macao, he will take similar action in Britain.
Mr. H. WilsonExports of war material to China are already subject to control both in the United Kingdom and in Hong Kong. Goods consigned to China via Macao are covered by these controls.
§ Sir W. SmithersIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that he told me on 5th December, in answer to a Question, that 1,500 tons of the best Malayan rubber had been exported to the Soviet Union? What is the good of sending the Prime Minister to Ottawa if the Cabinet are not backing him up to the full?
Mr. WilsonThe hon. Member will realise that, in the debate on 18th September, not only Members on this side, but his own leaders made it quite clear that they were opposed to a total blockade of 511 trade with the Soviet Union, and that rubber was specifically mentioned as something that should not be controlled.
§ Sir W. SmithersI did not say so.