§ 7. Mr. C. WHITEasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is proposed to impose an indemnity on Turkey; and, if so, if a sum of money equal to the price paid to Turkey for the exploitation of the oil of the Baghdad and Mosul vilayets will be paid out of this indemnity to the Arab State which is to be set up?
§ Mr. KELLAWAY (Secretary, Department of Overseas Trade)In reply to the first part of the question I would refer my hon. Friend to the official summary of the Financial Clauses of the Turkish Treaty, which appeared in the Press of 12th May. So far as information is available, no payments for the oil rights referred to were made to the Turkish Government.
§ 8. Mr. WHITEasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what amount of the oil of the Baghdad and Mosul vilayets was conceded before the War by Turkey to a British or part-British company?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYAssurance given by the Turkish Government before the War to the Turkish Petroleum Company covered the whole of the oil rights in the two vilayets mentioned.
§ Mr. WHITEWas a concession to exploit all the oil in the Baghdad and Mosul vilayets ceded before the War to a company?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYI think that if the hon. Member refers to a statement made by the Prime Minister he will see that point is covered.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIn view of the great importance of this matter, why cannot the House be given the information as to concessions made before the War by the Turks to private companies in this country?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYThe matter was dealt with by the Prime Minister yesterday. I do not see why it is necessary to repeat it.
§ 9. Mr. RAFFANasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the group in which the Turkish Petroleum Company has been merged; and what share of the capital of this undertaking is held by the nationals of various states, respectively?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYI am not aware of the Turkish Petroleum Company having been merged in any group. The second part of the question does not, therefore, arise.
§ 10. Mr. RAFFANasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any director of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company is also a director of the undertaking in which the Turkish Petroleum Company has been merged?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYAs stated in reply to the previous questions, I am not aware that the Turkish Petroleum Company has been merged in any other undertaking.