HC Deb 15 July 1919 vol 118 cc186-8
12. Mr. A. SHORT

asked the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state what is the composition of the Joint Mission which is being sent out on behalf of the Department of Oversea Trade and the Commission Internationale de Ravitaillement to investigate conditions in Serbia; what are the business interests represented on this Joint Mission; whether the whole cost of the Mission will be borne by the Department and the Commission; whether it has any powers to make recommendations to the Government with a view to legislation, as well as to the business interests of the country; whether a Report of its investigations will be published; whether he has sent out any other Mission of a similar nature; and whether he can give details of such Missions?

Sir H. GREENWOOD

I will have the names of the members of the Economic Mission to Serbia printed in the OFFICIAL REPORT. The Mission was sent in two contingents, of which the first has already returned, the object of the Mission being to investigate commercial conditions generally in Serbia and also reconstruction problems in engineering and public works, transportation, agriculture, timber, mining, town-planning, and sanitation. The official members of the Mission included no direct representative of any specific business interest. The first contingent of the Mission was, however, accompanied in an unofficial capacity by a representative of the Levant Company and a representative of the Associated British Manufacturers. The Mission was not intended to take the place of private initiative, but it is affording any facilities in its power to representatives in Serbia of British firms.

The expenses of the official members of the Mission are borne by the Commission Internationale de Ravitaillement. It has no power to make recommendations with a view to legislation. A Report of its investigations will be published on the completion of its work and an interim Report has already appeared in the "Board of Trade Journal" of 19th June.

A similar Mission was sent out to Poland by the Department of Oversea Trade and the Commission Internationale de Ravitaillement in the early part of the year. The Report of that Mission is at present under consideration.

Names of Members of Mission.

The Economic Mission to Serbia was sent out in two contingents. The first contingent consisted of (1) Mr. E. C. D. Rawlins, Commercial Secretary for Serbia and Greece; (2) Lieutenant-Colonel C. E. Jordan Bell, R.E., War Office; (3) Mr. F. A. Llewellyn, Office of Works; 4) Mr. W. Trask, nominated by the Federation of British Industries. This contingent was accompanied in an unofficial capacity by Mr. A. E. Tabor, of the Levant Company, and Captain T. G. Mapplebeck, of the Associated British Manufacturers.

The second contingent consists of (1) Mr. F. A. Llewellyn, Office of Works; (2) Captain E. C. Foot, Forestry Corps of Canadian Army; (3) Mr. G. E. Farrar, Office of Works; (4) Mr. C. L. K. Foot, ex-Manager of Government Stock Farm at Alington; (5) Mr. F. H. Cerrito, Office of Works; and (6) Mr. G. W. Tully, Office of Works (Scottish Branch).

Mr. Rawlins was in charge of the Mission attached to it. Mr. F. A. Llewellyn has since been in charge.