§ MR. ASCROFT (Oldham)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the suggestions made by Acting-Consul Massy, in his Diplomatic and Consular Report on the trade of Erzeroum, for the purpose of furthering British commerce in Asiatic Turkey and the Levant; and whether the recommendations in such Report, that British merchants should join in starting a reference agency in Constantinople fur the compilation and distribution of suitable catalogues containing comparative weights, measures, and prices, the drafting of letters in the vernacular, the instruction of commercial travellers as to locality and requirements, the exhibition of patterns, and the collection of bad debts, has been, or will be, communicated to the Chambers of Commerce in the United Kingdom; and whether, in face of the fact that Acting-Consul Massy reports that such a course would result in a large accession of business being brought to this country, he will take the necessary steps to give publicity to same, and promise the assistance of the Government if such an agency is formed?
§ MR. BRODRICKActing-Consul Massy's Report has been sent to all the Chambers of Commerce in the United Kingdom, and to various other public institutions. It would be premature to promise Government assistance to the scheme suggested until it is seen whether British merchants and manufacturers are disposed to take any initiative in such a direction.