HC Deb 04 February 1948 vol 446 c295W
Mr. Platts-Mills

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what are the qualifications of Mr. W. E. D. Allen, whom he has appointed head of the Information Department of the British Embassy at Ankara.

Mr. Bevin

Mr. W. E. D. Allen was appointed to Ankara as Press Attaché in September, 1944, and became Head of the Information Department of the British Embassy there when the overseas responsibilities of the Ministry of Information passed to the Foreign Office in April, 1946. Mr. Allen has specialised in the study of, and is an authority on, the topography and historical geography of the Middle East. His published works include books on Turkey, the Caucasus and Abyssinia. He speaks French, Russian, German, Italian, Turkish, Arabic and Amharic.