§ MR. TALBOT (Oxford University)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether representations have reached the Foreign Office from Consular Officers in Russia, calling attention to the hardship they suffer from the increased value of the rouble, and the increased price of provisions in that country, whereby the incomes of residents have been practically diminished; and whether the Foreign Office can hold out any hopes of being able to remedy the grievances complained of?
SIR J. GORST (for Sir J. FERGUSSON)Some of the Consular Officers in Russia have complained of the increased value of the rouble. Fluctuations in the rate of exchange affect diplomatic and consular salaries in all parts of the world, and it is impossible to provide against them.