§ 34. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Prime Minister what concessions were granted prior to the War by the Turkish Government to develop the oil and mineral resources of Mesopotamia; were the rights of the local inhabitants safeguarded in these concessions in any way, and, if so, how; and what is the policy of His Majesty's Government in this matter?
§ 36. Mr. KILEYasked the Prime Minister when he will lay upon the Table any agreements entered into by the Government with regard to the oil deposits in Mosul.
§ 47. Mr. ORMSBY-GOREasked the Prime Minister whether all the pre-War concessions granted by the Turkish Government in regard to oil in the vilayet of Mosul are now vested in the Turkish Petroleum Company; whether the Turkish Petroleum Company is an entirely British concern; whether the British Government have any holdings in this company; whether the Royal Dutch Company has any interest in the Turkish Petroleum Company, and, if so, to what extent; and whether the Turkish Petroleum Company have made any representations to the Government as to the steps which, in their opinion, should be taken to safeguard the use and means of supply of oil in the vilayet of Mosul.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI would refer the hon. Members to the Prime Minister's reply to questions on this subject on 28th June. As already stated, the method of development of the Mesopotamian oilfields is still under consideration. The Turkish Petroleum Company is registered in the United Kingdom, and the participation fixed before the War was Anglo-Persian Oil Company 50 per cent., Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Company 25 per cent., and Deutsche Bank 25 per cent. The latter holding has been temporarily acquired by His Majesty's Government. The Royal Dutch Company is interested as a shareholder in the Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Company. I am not aware of any representations having been made by the Turkish. Petroleum Company as suggested by the hon. Member for Mid-Stafford.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs there any information with regard to the rights of the local inhabitants being safeguarded? That is a question which was not answered by the Prime Minister.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWNo, but the Prime Minister did say that the whole question of the development of the oil would depend upon the new arrangements when the new State was set up. He also said that the local rights before the War would be considered and dealt with on their merits.
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREWas the concession granted by the Turkish Government in perpetuity or only for a limited time?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI do not know.
§ Captain W. BENNWhen he said it was subject to the pre-1914 arrangement, should he not have said that that absorbed all the interests?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWNo. What the pre-1914 arrangements were will be settled on their merits.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYCan we not be given the terms of these concessions? May we have them laid on the Table of the House?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI daresay they could.