§ MR. LOUGHI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the resignation of Mr. Wolff, the English Consul at Viborg in Finland, was accepted before his letter of explanation had actually been received; and, if so, what cause was alleged for his dismissal; whether eleven out of the fourteen English Consuls throughout Finland have since resigned as a protest against the treatment of Mr. Wolff; and, why was such action in his case necessary.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURAlthough Mr. Wolff's official letter of explanation had not been received when his resignation was accepted, a private letter had been received from him through Her Majesty's Consul-General at St. Petersburg, stating the circumstances and intimating a desire to be relieved of his Consular post and functions, if it was considered that his continuing to hold the Vice-Consulate debarred him from taking an active part in the political life of his native country, Finland. This was telegraphed home by Her Majesty's Ambassador, on September 13th, and on the 15th his Excellency was informed that Mr. Wolff's resignation might be accepted. It was obviously impossible to retain as British Vice-Consul a Russian subject who was taking active part in a political agitation against the Russian Government. If his resignation had not been accepted at the time, the Russian Government would have been within their right in withdrawing their recognition of him in his Consular capacity. In reply to the second paragraph it is a fact that nine other Vice Consuls in Finland have resigned, in consequence, as they allege, of the impossibility of reconciling their position as British Consular officers in the Grand Duchy of Finland with the discharge of their political rights and duties towards their native country.
§ MR. WEIRI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state how many British Consuls in Finland have recently resigned their positions, and can he state why they have taken this course.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe answer I gave to the hon. Member for West Islington covers this.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI have no reason to doubt the statement that eleven out of fourteen have resigned.