§ Mr. RENDALLasked whether His Majesty's consular officers have any, and what, duties to English traders; whether it is their duty, or an act of grace on their part, to answer queries from British traders about the credit of Foreign traders; whether it is usual for them to give answers on this point, and, if so, under what circumstances do they give such information; if it is not their duty to give such information, whether such a duty can be performed by them; and whether, with regard to the consuls employed by the German Government, this duty is regularly performed, to the advantage of German traders?
Mr. McKINNON WOODIt is the duty of His Majesty's Consular Officers abroad to reply to inquiries addressed to them by British traders, except when they manifestly relate to the business of competing British firms, or where the reply would be likely to prove injurious to British manufacturing interests. It is, however, no part of their duty to give opinions or to furnish confidential information as to the respectability, private character, or solvency of individuals or firms, but they may at their discretion indicate what the standing of any firm is generally considered to be while disclaiming official responsibility for the information. I have 420 no reason for supposing that German Consular officers are in the habit of going any further than this in dealing with inquiries as to the credit of foreign firms.