§ MR. HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If Her Majesty's Government have received a letter from Messrs. Joseph Rodgers and Sons, of Norfolk Street, Sheffield, expressing their sense of the great services rendered to the British cutlery trade in South America by the Chargé d'Affaires at Buenos Ayres, under the instructions of the Prime Minister, and if the same will be conveyed to Mr. Jenner; and, if it is a fact that Her Majesty's Diplomatic and Consular officers abroad have been directed by the Marquess of Salisbury to be particularly alive to the furtherance of British commercial interests in foreign countries; and if in accordance therewith any intimations have been given during the past two years, and made public in the United Kingdom, of projected works in the construction of which British enterprize might find a useful field; and if, in case of need, Her Majesty's Representatives are authorized to telegraph useful commercial information to secure early insertion of The Board of Trade Journal?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JAMES FERGUSSON) (Manchester, N.E.)The letter referred to in the first paragraph of my hon. Friend's Question, who has so frequently represented the matter in question to Her Majesty's Government, has been received, and Mr. Jenner has been informed that Messrs. Rodgers have expressed appreciation of his services. It has not been found necessary to issue any fresh instructions to Her Majesty's Diplomatic and Consular officers during the past two years to be "particularly alive" to the furtherance of British commercial interests, as the former instructions have been considered sufficient for the purpose; but, when occasion requires, Her Majesty's Diplomatic 1752 and Consular officers have been specially directed to further these interests. When intelligence is received that British enterprize is likely to find openings in projected works, public notice is given, usually in newspaper announcements. Without doubt Her Majesty's Representatives are authorized to telegraph useful commercial information when expedition is desirable; and I will inquire whether there have been any instances in which advantage would have resulted from the adoption of that course.