§ 12. Major HUNTasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can ascertain what sales or deliveries, if any, of 2045 petrol, benzine, kerosene, or other petroleum products, most of them necessities of war, have been made to enemy countries during the period of the War by any and which of the companies under the control of the Shell Trading and Transport Company, and/or any of their associated companies, other than the Astra Romana Company?
Mr. HARCOURTI have no reason to think that any such sales or deliveries of petroleum products as are suggested in the hon. and gallant Member's question have been made, and the Shell Transport and Trading Company inform me that they have not.
§ 13. Major HUNTasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can ascertain from the Shell Trading and Transport Company who, with their partners, the Bataafsche Company, are interested to the extent of about 67½ per cent. of the total capital of the Astra Romana Company, what petrol, benzine, kerosene, or other petroleum products, and in what quantities of each product, have been sold or delivered by the Astra Romana Company to enemy countries during the War; what is the value of such products so supplied to enemy countries; and what is the amount of the profits de rived therefrom by the Astra Romana Company?
Mr. HARCOURTI have made inquiry of the Shell Transport and Trading Company, who tell me that the interest of the Shell Company and the Bataafsche Company in the Astra Romana Company is much less than that stated in the question. They further state that they have no information as to the business of the Astra Romana Company, but that they understand that early in the War the export of petrol and benzine from Roumania was prohibited.
§ 14. Major HUNTasked whether the Shell Trading and Transport Company, Limited, is a trading or transport company at all, and is it merely a shareholding company, deriving its profits entirely from dividends received in respect of shares held by it in various companies which are under foreign control; and if the Board of Trade could take steps to remove the large amount of misconception which prevails in this country in regard to the actual business and status of the company?
Mr. HARCOURTThe interests of the Shell Transport and Trading Company, 2046 Limited, in the production and transport of petroleum products are, I think, generally known to be represented by shares in other companies in which the Royal Dutch Petroleum Company holds a majority of the shares, and I am not aware of any misconception as to the business and status of the company.
§ 15. Major HUNTasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the official information given by the Board of Trade that the Shell Trading and Transport Company and their partners the Bataafsche Company are interested in 67 per cent. of the capital of the Astra Romana Company, he can ascertain the names of the persons who, at the outbreak of war, were directors of the Astra Romana Company; whether Mr. Deterding was a director of that company; if so, for how long during the War; and on what date he resigned his directorship?
Mr. HARCOURTI am sending the hon. and gallant Member a list of the fifteen directors of the Astra Romana Company at the outbreak of War. I am informed the Mr. Deterding resigned his directorship in the early days of the War.