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extra large harvest was a one and although there was no reason
to believe that her normal imports of cotton from adjacent Asiatic
countries had been reduced. My Government have definite evidence
of actual shipments from Russia to Germany of over 60,000 tons
of cotton in the first 10 months of 1940. Russia has committed
herself to supply Germany with 90,000 tons of cotton per annum
and recent reports have indicated that this figure has been increased
to 120,000 tons. The Soviet Government are also exporting cotton
to other various European destinations, such as 8,000 tons to
Slovakia and at least 6,000 tons to Hungary. It seems evident
therefore that the Soviet Government imports have been made in
order to enable them to replace the domestic cotton which they
are supplying to Central Europe.
Perhaps of more immediate relevance in connection with the
question of the interception of ships in the Caribbean are exports
of important commodities from South America to Germany by way
of Russia and Japan. I am giving Mr. Sumner Welles detailed information
on this point and would just quote one or two particular items
here. Germany, for instance, has bought three million dollars
worth of rubber in Brazil and one million dollars worth of this