§ SIR HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that the United States, France, and Germany are making every effort to profit by the coming reign of industrial activity in the Russian Empire; and, if he is now able to announce what steps Her Majesty's Government have at length decided to take to utilise for British capital and trade the friendly disposition thereto of His Imperial Majesty the Tsar and the Russian Government.
§ *THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. BRODRICK, Surrey, Guildford)We have not seen any official reports to the effect mentioned by my hon. friend. No change has taken place since I answered my hon. friend's question a month ago which would enable me to add anything to the answer I then gave as to our commercial relations.
§ SIR HOWARD VINCENTI shall take advantage of the earliest opportunity to call attention to the delay in the appointment of a commercial attaché at St. Petersburg.