57. Lieut.-Colonel LOWTHERasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the importance to this country of establishing regular trade with Southern Russia on a basis of bartering our own manufactured goods against Russian raw materials, any, and if so, what measures are being adopted by the Government to assist General Denikin in reorganising railway transport, etc., in those regions liberated by his armies?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe British Military Mission in South Russia includes a railway section of forty officers and sixty-five other ranks, who are assisting General Denikin in the reorganisation of the railway system. The British contribution to General Denikin includes a considerable quantity of railway material 547 mainly for the repair of derelict locomotives and wagons of which there are a large number in the country. A British Economic Mission is being dispatched shortly to South Russia, and I hope that this will materially help the promotion of trade.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs not this railway material much more needed in this country?