HC Deb 24 July 1940 vol 363 cc818-9W
Mr. Parker

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government will requisition all stocks of jewellery at present in the possession of wholesalers and retailers in the country in return for war loans or other Government stock and deposit such jewellery in the United States of America to be realised or held as security for payment for munitions, etc.?

Sir K. Wood

Apart from other considerations the difficulty of realising such jewellery in the United States, or using it as security for payments, would be very great, and I do not feel able to adopt the proposal.