§ SIR HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many of Her Majesty's Consulates General, Consulates, and Vice-Consulates in foreign countries are held by foreigners, not subjects of Her Majesty; and if, having regard to the increased importance of these posts from a commercial point of view, he will endeavour to fill vacancies whenever practicable by duly qualified and commercially-trained subjects of the Queen?
THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. G. N. CUBZON,) Lancashire, S.W., SouthportThe number of foreigners not subjects of Her Majesty holding British Consular appointments is four Consuls-General, 14 Consuls, 225 Vice-Consuls, and 29 Consular Agents. Wherever we can we appoint British subjects to Consular posts; but in the higher grades of these British subjects require to be paid substantial salaries, whereas the services of all the officials above enumerated are gratuitously rendered. I am afraid 552 that if we accepted the principle that British subjects should be appointed in every case, we should in many instances find great difficulty in securing suitable candidates, and that we should have to ask the House for a heavy annual increase to the Consular Vote. It was the last-mentioned obstacle that was accepted as conclusive by the Royal Commission in 1889. I need hardly add that, cœteris paribus, a British subject is always chosen.
§ SIR H. VINCENTDo I understand my right hon. Friend to say that the services of these foreigners are gratuitously rendered?
§ MR. JAMES LOWTHER (Kent, Isle of Thanet)Do I understand my right hon. Friend to say that there is a system of diplomatic sweating?
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