CO129-438 - Public Offices - 1916 — Page 153

C. 12334.

COPY.

.W. 59486/7.

Kunorgize.London. Victoria 8700.

sir,

MINISTRY OF MUNITIONS OF WAR.

Whitehall Place,

148

LONDON,

4th April, 1916.17576

¡RECE

REG 15 APR 16

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that

Land

Shastratie

I

4 Chan

In reply to your letter of March 21st. (0.9306) with

regard to the export of Pig Lead from this country, I am

directed by the Minister of Munitions to state, for the

information of the Board of Trade that the exports of lead

from this country to Hong Kong have been out of all propor-

tion to the requirements of that colony.

The Minister has also been advised that lead from the

Broken Hill Mines has reached China, although all the output

of lead from this source is shipped to the United Kingdom,

and none exported to China direct.

The Minister is accordingly or opinion, for these

reasons, that large shipments of lead are being made from Hong!

Kong for the Chinese Market.

I am however, to point out that the question of

exports to Hong Kong is only adduced as one instance of

unduly large shipments of this metal from this country, and

I am to say that in view of the great scarcity of manufactured

lead, the Minister is of opinion that it is imperative that a

stringent control should be exercised over all exports of this

metal from this country, and he would accordingly be glad if

the Board would take the necessary steps to transfer pig

lead, which is now included in the item appearing in List B

of restricted exports as lead, pig, sheet, pipe, or scrap

(including solder containing lead) to List A of goods, the

export of which is prohibited to all destinations.

If