§ Mr. LABOUCHERE (Northampton)asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, What was the official position of Mr. Condie Stephen towards Bulgaria, when the Earl of Iddesleigh gave him a letter of introduction to an eminent financial firm, in order to enable him to enter into negotiations with that firm for a loan to Bulgaria; whether it had already been decided that Mr. Stephen should not return to Bulgaria as Her Majesty's Representative when this letter was given to him; and, whether there is any precedent for a Representative of Her Majesty to a foreign country acting as Agent of that country in regard to the issue of a loan by a British financial firm; or of a Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs giving to him a letter of introduction to a financial firm in London, in order to facilitate the negotiations of a loan, on his return home from the country where he represented Her Majesty?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JAMES FERGUSSON) (Manchester, N.E.)Mr. Condie Stephen had no official position "towards Bulgaria" when the Earl of Iddesleigh gave him a letter of introduction to a financial firm. He had ceased to act as Her Majesty's Representative in Bulgaria on the return of Sir Frank Lascelles, who held that appointment. I do not know that there is any precedent for a Representative of Her Majesty in a foreign country acting as Agent for that country in regard to the issue of a loan by a British financial firm. As a matter of fact, Mr. Stephen was not such a Representative, and did not propose to act as Bulgarian Agent for a loan.