§ SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFFasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If he can state the date at which Her Majesty's Consulate at Tiflis was created, and the date at which it was abolished?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEThe post was created on the 24th of April, 1876, and abolished on the 31st of December, 1881.
§ LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILLWould the noble Lord say why the post was abolished?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEIt was not found that the objects for which it was established were accomplished—namely, that information was not obtained with ease. It was found that the establishment of a Consular officer at Batoum as a port of observation would be much more useful.