HC Deb 15 July 1953 vol 517 cc2038-9
18. Mr. Awbery

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the ban on the export of rubber from Malaya to China is depressing the rubber market and adversely affecting the living conditions and wages of the rubber workers; that Ceylon is exporting large quantities of this commodity to China; that a trading delegation has just concluded an agreement with China; and if he will now remove this ban.

Mr. Lyttelton

No, Sir. I do not think that the removal of the ban would have a significant effect on the price. As regards the last part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to his Question on 24th June.

Mr. Awbery

Is my right hon. Friend aware that Ceylon has made an agreement with China to export 50,000 tons of rubber each year for the next five years and that recently a British trade delegation has been in China making arrangements for the exportation of 30 million tons of goods? I wish to ask the Minister if the ban was placed upon the exportation of rubber by the Colonial Office or by the Malayan Government, or jointly by both?

Mr. Lyttelton

The embargo on exports of rubber to China was imposed by the Governments of the Federation of Malaya and Singapore at our request early in May, 1951, and before the United Nations Resolution of 18th May. The hon. Member will recognise that so long as our troops are fighting in Korea it would be most improper for us to permit a licence to export rubber to China.

Mr. Awbery

But is the Minister aware that we are concerned with the post-war and post-armistice period, when the people now exporting rubber to China will have an advantage over the Malayan market? We are keen to protect the Malayan market from exploitation of this character.

Mr. Wyatt

How does the Colonial Secretary expect the people of Malaya to believe in our sincerity when we talk about giving them self-government when here is an issue on which Europeans, Malays and Chinese are all agreed, that the ban should not continue, while the Colonial Secretary insists on maintaining it against the interests of Malaya?

Mr. Lyttelton

The hon. Member will have to take a rather simpler view of this matter. It is not possible to permit the export of strategic material by a member of the United Nations when there is an actual war going on.

Mr. Wyatt

But Malaya is not a member of the United Nations.