London, Oct. 11.
The United States Government's recent approval of export of a maximum of one million barrels of oil to Japan aroused anxiety in the House of Commons yesterday. Mr. Geoffrey Mander, Liberal, proposed that the American Government should be asked to agree to concurrent action between Britain and America to prevent further oil going to Japan.
Mr. R. A. Butler, Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs said the United States prohibition of oil exports related only to certain grades. Britain had been in touch with the United States on this matter. The British adopt the best policy in each circumstances. The Government fully realized that war materials should not be supplied to Japan, Mr. Butler's reply did no satisfy Mr. Mander, who demanded: "Are you going to give us assurance that war materials will not be supplied or are you not?"
Mr. Wedgood, Independent, enquired whether the Russian, Chinese and Netherlands Governments were cooperating and whether there was a possibility of American protection. of the East Indies.
Mr. Butler declared the House could be most assured that the importance of contact with friendly governments on matters of common interests was fully appreciated by the British Government and recalled that certain conversations have taken place which were of considerable importance and which were not concluded.
"Can the Minister assure the House that the same sentimental policy which was adopted towards Italy will not be repeated in the case of Japan, and that we shall refrain from supp! ing commodities of war to Japan?" This was a question asked by Sir John Henry Morris-Jones, Liberal National member for he Denbigh division of Denbighshire.
Mr. Butler replied that the Government could be relied to adopt the best policy in each circumstance as it
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.