§ 167. Mr. Bossomasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that there are two ships containing rubber worth in the neighbourhood of £3,500,000 on the way from Singapore to Canton, via Hong Kong; and what action he proposes to prevent this loss of strategic material.
§ Mr. CookI have received information that, as the hon. Member states, some 10,000 tons of rubber are on their way to Canton. In view of the value of the cargo it is assumed that it is of lower grade rubber. With regard to the second part of the Question, I would remind the hon. Member that there are no restrictions on the export of rubber, but that a close watch is kept on the cumulative total of exports to individual countries.