VISCOUNT ELIBANKasked His Majesty's Government what was the proportion in the last known statistical year and the two previous years respectively of Japanese import trade into the countries in Africa covered by the Congo Basin Treaty, to the whole import trade of those countries, and what were the actual figures in respect of each such country; and further, what were similarly the figures of British, French, Belgian, German and Italian importations respectively into the same countries.
§ LORD TEMPLEMOREThe following statement shows the value of merchandise imported during the years 1933 to 1935 into countries situated wholly within the Congo Basin Treaty area, distinguishing imports from certain specified countries.
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— Total Imports. of which from:— United Kingdom. France. Belgium. Germany. Italy. Japan. Middle Congo (French Equatorial Africa): £ £ £ £ £ £ Proportion of Total Per cent Thousand French Francs. 1933 105,012 6,420 49,171 1[...],464 1,889 225 (a) — 1934 74,776 5,531 30,657 8,596 2,480 392 1,395 2 1935 84,901 5,102 46,242 7,058 2,285 366 (a) — (a) Not Available.
Note.—(1) The average rates of exchange of Belgian francs were 118.98, 108.20 and 135.10 to the £ in 1933, 1934 and 1935, respectively, and of French francs 84.60, 76.72 and 74.27 to the £ in the same years.
(2) It is not practicable to give similar particulars of the trade of those portions of other Colonies, etc., lying within the zone, since information is only published in respect of the whole administrative area.
House adjourned at a quarter past seven o'clock.
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