HC Deb 28 October 1920 vol 133 cc1963-4W
Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether a debt commission has been set up in Turkey; what are its functions and powers; whether applicants for concessions in Asiatic Turkey have to apply to this commission; how is it composed; and how is the voting on the commission arranged?

Mr. HARMSWORTH

Under the Treaty the Council of the Ottoman Public Debt will continue to exercise its functions pending any subsequent decisions. On the Ratification of the Treaty a financial commission will be set up, composed of a French, an Italian, and a British delegate, with whom a Turkish commissioner will be associated in a consultative capacity. It will control the estimates and execution of the Budget provisions; will regulate currency, the raising of new loans, and the granting of concessions; will be responsible for the Customs administration and tariffs; and generally will deal with all financial matters not already entrusted to the Ottoman Public Debt, under the Decree of Monharrem. Decisions in the financial commission will be taken by the vote of the majority,