§ MR. ALDENI beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any official Report to the effect that King Leopold has conceded territories in the Congo Free State to an American syndicate; whether the Crown demesne has also been leased to an American group; how far the reforms suggested as the result of the Commission of Inquiry have been carried into effect; and whether he could make any statement with regard to the question of the appointment of British or European Consuls.
§ SIR EDWAED GREYNo information has been received to the effect that territories in the Congo Free State have been conceded to an American syndicate, or that the Crown demesne has been leased to an American group. With regard to the reforms, I have nothing to add to the reply given on November 5th. † His Majesty's Government already have consular representatives at Boma, Stanleyville, and Leopoldville, and they do not at present propose to make further appointments. I am unable to make any statement with regard to the appointment of Consuls by other European Powers, except that a Belgian Consul has recently been appointed at Boma.
In reply to Sir GILBERT PARKER (Gravesend)—
§ SIR EDWARD GREYsaid that the British Government were represented at the places named in his Answer by one Consul and two Vice-Consuls.
§ MR. BOTTOMLEYI beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, having regard to the practice of the Foreign Office, the following members of the Diplomatic Service are British subjects, namely, Count Gleichen, Sir W.
† See Col. 119.328 Goschen, and Messrs. Dos Graz, A. Mavtelaos, Hohler, Baelz, Alvarez, Clemow, Marinitch, and Abbas Kuli Khan; and further, whether the following salaried members of the Consular Service are British subjects, namely, Messrs. Rafael Antonio Foutana, Sundius, Pitzipios, de la Croix Anatole Sauzier, J. Falanga, de Bruyne, Zohrab, de Coetlogon, and du Vallon.
§ SIR EDWARD GREYOut of the first list, three only are members of the regular Diplomatic Service, and they are British subjects. Of the second list one i —Mr. Falanga—is only employed temporarily. The rest are British subjects with the exception of Mr. de la Croix, and Mr. de Bruyne, who are Consuls with permission to trade, and were appointed over thirty years ago under a system which is now obsolete.