HC Deb 27 October 1919 vol 120 cc276-7
76. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

asked the Prime Minister whether a British naval mission is or has been in Poland; what is or was the abject of this mission; whether a Polish Navy is in contemplation; and whether it is the policy of the Supreme Council to encourage the formation of new navies in the Baltic or elsewhere?

Mr. HARMSWORTH

At the urgent request of the Polish Government a British Naval Mission, with Commander Wharton in command, arrived at Warsaw on 11th September with the object of advising the Polish Government on various technical questions such as the development of their seaboard, rivers, minesweeping, ports and docks, and the organisation of their river and seaborne traffic, and of their Mercantile Marine. As regards the third part of the hon. and gallant Member's question, the Polish Government are hoping eventually to have a small naval force of their own, but I am not in a position to state the attitude of the Supreme Council towards this question.