§ SIR ANDREW SCOBLE (Hackney, Central)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India what is the amount of the contribution paid by the Government of India towards the cost of Diplomatic and Consular Establishments in China, Persia, Turkey, Siam, East Africa, and elsewhere; and whether he is able to state what proportion such contribution bears to the total cost of such Establishments respectively?
§ * THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Mr. GEORGE RUSSELL,) North Beds.The Secretary of State is unable to state the cost of the Diplomatic and Consular Establishments maintained under the control of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. The following statement shows the present contributions towards such Establishments paid by the Indian Government, as well as the cost of similar establishments maintained and paid for under the control of the Indian Government:—China: a fixed contribution of £12,500 per annum paid by India towards the cost of the Diplomatic and Consular Services. Persia: (1) a fixed contribution of £7,000 per annum towards the cost of Her Britannic Majesty's Legation at Teheran; (2) the salary and establishment charges of a special officer (Consul General) on Khorassan frontier (about Rx.15,000), paid wholly by India; (3) the salaries and establishment charges of Bushire Residency, including salaries of Her Britannic Majesty's Consul General for Fars, &c., and Vice Consul at Bushire (about Rx.10,000) are paid by India; the salary of the Vice Consul at Mohammerah is not paid by India. Turkey: (1) the cost of the Political Residency in Turkish Arabia, including the salaries of Consul General for Bagdad and Consul at Bussorah (about Rx.9,000) is paid wholly by India; (2) half the cost of the Consulate at Jeddah for the Eastern Coast of the Red Sea—Indian share being calculated at £458—is paid by India; (3) the expenses of the Vice Consulate at Hodeidah (Consul's salary 184 amounting to £360, and other expenses £160) are met from Indian Revenues, but towards this cost the Imperial Government pays £200. Siam: The Chiengmai Vice Consulate charges (about Rx.1,000) are paid wholly by India. Somali Coast: The Political Assistant is also Her Britannic Majesty's Consul; his salary (Rx.1,756) and expenses are paid by India. Muskat: The salary (Rx.3,120) and expenses of the Political Agent and Her Britannic Majesty's Consul are paid wholly by India. French Colonies: India pays £650, not towards Consuls' salaries or cost of establishment, but for travelling expenses and interpreters, £500 to the Consul at Réunion, and £150 to the Consul for Cayenne and Surinam, on special grounds in the interests of Indian coolie emigrants. Goa and Pondicherri: Her Britannic Majesty's Consul at Goa and the Consular Agent for Pondicherri and Karikal are paid by India.