§ SIR C. DILKE (Gloucester, Forest of Dean)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is now intended to fill up the consular offices in Madagascar; whether it will be possible to remove the consulate from Tamatave to the capital; and what is the date of the last consular trade Report on Madagascar?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. G. N. CURZON,) Lancashire, SouthportIt is not proposed at present to make any alteration in the existing consular arrangements in Madagascar. It has been decided to retain the consulate at Tamatave on account of the British commercial interests which are there involved. But in the event of the Consul being required at the capital he would, of course, proceed there. The latest Consular Report was issued in 1891. None has appeared since that date owing to the impossibility of obtaining reliable statistics. This obstacle should have been removed since the French occupation, and Her Majesty's Consul will be called upon to send an early Report.