3. Captain Duncanasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what diplomatic representation His Majesty's Government now has at Helsinki.
§ The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Eden)Diplomatic relations with Finland have not been resumed, but Mr. F. M. Shepherd has been appointed British Political Representative in Finland.
Captain DuncanWill my right hon. Friend see that a commerical attaché gets to Helsinki as soon as possible, in view of the urgent need for timber for housing, which Finland can supply, and also in view of the fact that the reparations in kind that Finland has to pay to Russia will take an enormous part of the exportable surplus of timber?
§ Mr. EdenI should be glad if my hon. and gallant Friend will put that question down, but I can tell him that the question of timber supplies to us from Finland has already been taken up by us in Finland.
§ Mr. ShinwellCan we have some assurance that, both as regards Helsinki and other places that are accessible to us, we shall appoint commercial attachés as soon as possible?
§ Mr. EdenYes, Sir; I think that there is a commercial attaché there already, and I know that either he or Mr. Shepherd has taken up this question.