-2- 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 |