HC Deb 29 February 1944 vol 397 cc1271-2W
Mr. A. Edwards

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will give the dates on which His Majesty's Minister in Stockholm, acting upon instructions received from his Department, has lodged a protest with the Swedish Government regarding the assistance given to Germany in the form of iron-ore shipments.

Mr. Foot

I have been asked to reply. I have no statement to make on this subject.

Mr. A. Edwards

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare whether he can give the approximate amount of manganese, and of other scarce metals, obtained by Germany from the import of Swedish iron-ores with a high content of manganese.

Mr. Foot

There is no iron ore produced in Sweden with a high manganese content. The average content is 0.1 per cent. and this is almost entirely dissipated in the normal steel making processes. As regards other scarce metals, it is conceivable that, by using Swedish ores exclusively in Bessemer plants, the enemy might, last year, have extracted approximately 500 tons of vanadium. It is, however, highly improbable that all Swedish ore imported into Germany was, or is, treated in this way.

Mr. A. Edwards

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare whether, in order to deal a blow to German armaments output, he will, together with the U.S. Government, urge the Swedish Government to effect a further reduction in the quantities of iron-ore shipped to Germany; and whether, failing a definite undertaking to that effect being given by the Swedish Government, His Majesty's Government and the Government of U.S.A. will ban shipments of crude oil and of oil products, as they banned such shipments to Spain.

Mr. Foot

I am in frequent communication with representatives of the Swedish Government, both as regards iron-ore shipments and other exports to Axis Europe. I would, however, remind the House that, as I stated on 22nd February, the arrangements made for Swedish-German trade in 1944 involve a very substantial reduction not only in exports to the Axis of iron-ore but also of many other commodities. As regards the second part of the Question, I have no statement to make.