§ MR. BOTTOMLEY (Hackney, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will grant a Return of all members of the consular and diplomatic services who are either aliens or Levantines.
§ SIR EDWARD GREYThere are no aliens in the diplomatic service, nor in the salaried Consular service. A few of His Majesty's consuls are Englishmen who are believed to have been born in the Levant. I could perhaps obtain this information for the hon. Member, but a published Return seems hardly called for. A list of unsalaried members of the Consular Service will be found on pp. 14 to 18 of the Foreign Office list. Those who are not of British nationality are easily distinguishable by their names.
SIR GILBERT PARKER (Gravesend)Have the Government any intention as far as possible of replacing foreigners by British subjects as Vice-Consuls?
§ SIR EDWARD GREYThere are no foreigners in the salaried Consular service. The unsalaried Consular service is composed generally of persons engaged in trade. Wherever a British subject is resident and is suitable, of course he is appointed in preference to a foreigner.
§ MR. BOTTOMLEYMay I ask whether, in appointing these British Consuls and Vice-Consuls, it is made a condition that they shall be capable of speaking the English language?
§ SIR EDWARD GREYPerhaps the hon. Member will give notice of this Question. But in regard to the unsalaried Consular service, of course it is not a regular service in the ordinary sense of the term, and it is necessary in appointing unpaid persons engaged in trade to take the best men available.
§ MR. BOTTOMLEYBut does not the unsalaried Vice-Consul take fees on everything he does in pursuance of his office?
§ SIR EDWARD GREYHe has allowances which cover the expenses of the office, but there is no salary.
SIR GILBERT PARKERIs it not the case that when the Consul is absent the Vice-Consul discharges his duty, and may be called upon to act for him and represent this country where national interests are concerned, and, therefore, would it not be better to have a British subject wherever possible to act as Vice-Consul?
§ SIR EDWARD GREYI think it follows from my previous Answer that wherever a British subject is available he would be appointed in preference to a foreigner.