Colonel Baldwin-Webbasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether his attention has been called to the fact that orders for wire-netting from South America are being lost to this country by reason of the present temporary embargo on the export of such material and that further difficulties are being created by the fact that German manufacturers are guaranteeing delivery of such materials to South America by the autumn of this year; and whether he will take steps to make the true position known in South America and to preserve this trade for Great Britain?
§ Mr. JohnstoneConcentration upon the nation's war effort has during recent months resulted in an inevitable curtailment of exports of wire and wire products166W but it is hoped that in the near future the position in this respect will become easier. I have been informed that offers for delivery in October have been made by Germany but it seems hard to believe that such offers can in the light of circumstances be taken seriously. None the less action is constantly being taken to keep before the notice of South American purchasers the ability of this country to manufacture and to deliver a very wide range of their normal requirements