§ MR. CALDWELL (Lanark, Mid)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Mr. C. Hardinge has been appointed Secretary of Embassy at St. Petersburg over the heads of 10 senior secretaries; and whether Mr. Hardinge either possesses special qualifications or has rendered special services justifying his exceptional promotion; if so, whether he can state these qualifications or services?
MR. CURZONThe fact is as stated. Mr. Hardinge was in charge of Her Majesty's Legation at Teheran from January 14th, 1897, to March 31st of this year, in the absence of Sir Mortimer Durand, and performed the duties of a somewhat difficult position to the entire satisfaction of the Secretary of State, who is of opinion that he is specially qualified for the post to which he has now been appointed.