HC Deb 06 February 1939 vol 343 cc650-1W
Mr. Edwards

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the tonnage and value of nickel, copper, rubber, tin, and oil supplied to Germany, Italy, and Japan from the British Empire and the United States of America, respectively, for the last 12 months up to the latest available date?

Mr. Cross

The following statement, compiled from the official trade returns of

— Germany, 1938. Italy, 1938. Japan, 1936.
Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value.
Metric tons. 1,000 Reichsmarks. Metric tons. 1,000 Lire. Piculs. 1,000 Yen.
Nickel:
From British Empire … 1,934 3,339 781 11,709 33,226 6,561
From United States … 949 937 — — 3,187 715
Copper†:
From British Empire … 106,718 53,953 7,677 31,540 3,053 103
From United States … 73,783 43,633 16,396 69,974 810,817 33,459
Rubber*:
From British Empire … 46,009 37,480 26,161 159,101 656,052 44,915
From United States … 74 110 55 206 4,082 142
Tin:
From British Empire … 2,514 5,059 3,134 54,073 57,968 11,490
From United States … 257 401 — — — —
Mineral Oil: 1,000 litres.
From British Empire … 18,486 1,224 1,547 926 314,131 9,889
From United States … 1,183,020 84,415 971,729 342,010 3,056,754 118,584
* Particulars are available in respect of imports into Japan from the British Empire during the twelve months ended October, 1938; these amounted to 336,066 piculs valued at 21,294,000 yen.
† Including alloys in the case of Italy.

NOTES.—Metric ton=2,204.6 lb. avoir.

Picul=132.3 lb. avoir.

Rates of exchange:

Germany (1938) … … … 12.18 Reichsmarks=£1
Italy (1938) … … … 92.93 Lire=£1
Japan (1936 and 1938) … … … 17.143 Yen=£1

Mr. Edwards

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the value of materials, capable of being used for war purposes, which have been supplied from all parts of the British Empire to Germany, Italy, and Japan, respectively, up to the latest available date; and the amounts supplied in each of the last 10 years?

Mr. R. S. Hudson

I regret that I am unable to furnish the desired information.