§ Mr. Petherickasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the part that the British authorities are taking in assisting the Government of Ethiopia to restore order and promote an economic recovery and general social improvement in that country.
§ Mr. EdenIn addition to the direct financial aid given by His Majesty's Government experienced British officials have been made available to serve under the Ethiopian Government as advisers to the various administrative and technical departments of that Government. An important military mission, for which His Majesty's Government bear the whole cost, has during the past two years been actively engaged in training and establishing a regular Ethiopian defence force. British commissioners of police have been released far service under the Ethiopian Government for the purpose of organising and training an efficient and trustworthy police force. These arrangements were made under the Agreement concluded between His Majesty's Government and the Emperor of Ethiopia on 31st January,250W 1942, the text of which I made available to the House on the occasion of its signature. On the economic side we have made very comprehensive arrangements to foster agricultural production and to purchase and transport considerable quantities of Ethiopian produce for overseas markets. As a result of our efforts in this direction the rehabilitation of Ethiopian economy has been rapid and widespread.