§ Mr. LARDNERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he was aware that unsalaried British Consulate Officers in America, through their official character, intimated to the next-of-kin in this country the death of a person under whose will or intestacy the next-of-kin in this country were entitled to legacies or distributive shares of the assets, and that the Consular Officers offered to undertake the collection of these legacies or shares and charge for their services as much as one-half of the amount collected; and whether he would see his way to take some action to prevent these Consular Officers, in cases where their services were accepted, from charging unreasonable fees?
§ The UNDER - SECRETARY for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. T. McKinnon Wood)British Consular Officers in the United States cannot in their official capacity undertake the administration or distribution of estates of British subjects dying in that country, though they may communicate on the subject with the next-of-kin, either in England or elsewhere. Unsalaried Consular Officers, however, can undertake the task in their private, as distinct from their official capacity. The remuneration for their services is then a matter of arrangement between them and the parties interested; there is no obligation on the next-of-kin to employ them.
§ Mr. LARDNERAre not the next-of-kin in this country, under the circumstances, likely to be misled into thinking that they were bound to employ these officials?
§ Mr. McKINNON WOODThey are under no obligation to employ the Consulate Officers. Of course, if they obtain information from them they do employ them.
§ Mr. LARDNERIs he aware that these officers have extorted fifty per cent, of the amount collected?
§ Mr. McKINNON WOODNo, I am not aware of that. I believe one case has been mentioned.
§ Mr. LARDNERWill the Under-Secretary inquire into the matter?