§ MR. REESI beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has information to the effect that the Belgian Directors of Customs in Persia have been dismissed; and whether, if any fresh appointments of the like character are contemplated, he will endeavour to arrange that directors acceptable to this country and favourable to the development of its commerce are appointed in the Persian Gulf.
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. RUNCIMAN,for Sir EDWARD GREY) Dewsbury;The Minister of Customs in Persia, Monsieur Naus, and his Assistant, Monsieur Priem, have resigned. My right hon. friend has no information of the resignation or dismissal of any of the other Belgian Customs Officials in Persia, or of any contemplated change in the Belgian staff in the ports of the Persian Guff.