§ Colonel W. THORNEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, as the Kellner-Partington Company have entered into partnership with the Government of Austria he will now apply to the Courts for the appointment of a controller in the same manner as an application was made in respect to the Aramayo Francke Mines, Limited, of Bolivia; and, as this company or its directors will now be occupied in raising funds for the new undertaking into which they have entered in partnership with the Government of Austria, what does he propose to do in the matter of Mr. Lowe, who is one of the directors, but also a British subject?
§ Mr. WARDLESo far as I am aware, no partnership has been entered into by the Kellner-Partington Company with the Government of Austria. The property of the company in Austria has been sold for cash and shares in an Austrian company, which cash and shares are retained by the Austrian Government during the War, and the company will thus retain an interest in the property in Austria if these shares are handed over at the end of the War.1396W No money will be remitted to Austria as a result of the transaction, and I see no ground for applying to the Court for the appointment of a controller.
§ Colonel THORNEasked the Assistant-Director to the War Trade Department what was the exact date on which he intimated to the Kellner-Partington Wood Pulp Company that they might proceed with the sale of their shares to the syndicate of Norwegian purchasers?
Commander LEVERTON-HARRISThe War Trade Department were not concerned in the matter. I presume the hon. Member refers to the approval by the Foreign Trade Department required by the terms of the Treasury licence. This was conveyed in a letter dated 10th July, 1917.