§ *MR. CHARLES HOBHOUSEI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can state the amount which has been received in fees by the commercial agents in Russia, Switzerland, United States, and Central America respectively; and whether it is intended to extend the system of appointing such agents to countries where at present there are none.
§ *VISCOUNT CRANBORNEThe following sums have been received at the Foreign Office on account of fees levied by commercial agents:—Russia, £13 18s.; Switzerland, nil; United States, £3 6s.; Central America, £1 1s.; total, £18 5s. The commercial agents were appointed for an experimental period of two years, rather more than half of which period has expired. It can hardly yet be decided whether the duties which the agents have performed, not only by services payable by fees, but also by preparing general reports on commercial matters, are of sufficient utility to warrant the continuance or the extension of these appointments.
§ *MR. CHARLES HOBHOUSECan the noble Lord say whether there has 1152 been any report from any of these agents except from the one in Switzerland?
§ *VISCOUNT CRANBORNEI cannot without inquiry.