HC Deb 22 March 1944 vol 398 c869W
Mr. A. Edwards

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare whether he has any information regarding the quantities of wolfram, tin and chrome exported from Portugal to Spain last year under the Spanish-Portuguese Commercial Agreement; and whether he is satisfied that Spain does not re-export substantial quantities of these strategic raw materials to Germany.

Mr. Foot

The Spanish-Portuguese Commercial Agreement of February, 1943, provided for the export from Portugal, amongst other commodities, of 400 tons of tin and a small quantity of chrome ore. According to my information some 150 tons of tin and 800 tons of chrome ore were so exported in 1943. I am satisfied that no re-export of these commodities has taken place from Spain to Germany. As regards wolfram, no export to Spain was provided for in the Agreement, but I cannot exclude the possibility that wolfram may have been smuggled into Spain and have reached the enemy.