HC Deb 25 November 1953 vol 521 cc348-9
35. Mr. Wyatt

asked the Secretary of State for Foregin Affairs whether he will publish the report he has received from Her Majesty's Ambassador in Washington on the extent of American trade with Communist China.

Mr. Nutting

The extent of American imports from China in 1952 and the first quarter of 1953 is set out in a memorandum issued by the United States Department of Commerce, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member. I am informed that during this period there have been no American exports to China.

Mr. Wyatt

As the Americans bought 28 million dollars' worth of goods from China in 1952, which represents nearly 10 times as many goods as we bought from China, and as dollars are the most valuable war potential now in existence, should not the British Information Services in Washington be instructed to inform the American public that, far from Britain being the only country to trade with China, America has been of far more assistance to Communist China than we have?

Mr. Nutting

So far as I am aware there has been no attempt by the American Government to conceal this fact. [Hon. Members: "Oh."] I said by the American Government. This is a statement issued by the United States Department of Commerce which, so far as I am aware, is available to the whole of the nation, just as I am making it available to the hon. Member.

Major Beamish

Will my hon. Friend arrange to put in the Library a copy of Mr. Harold Stassen's last report to Congress which contained all the relevant information about this matter, including all the figures sought by the hon. Member for Aston (Mr. Wyatt), and also a full record of the trade of Britain with China?

Mr. Nutting

I will certainly do that.