§ 5. Mr. SWIFT MacNEILLasked whether Mr. Brown, who is acting Vice-Consul (unpaid) at Iquitos, the nearest seat of a British Consulate to the Putumayo, is himself in any way connected with the rubber traffic in the Amazon forest or Putumayo regions, or connected directly or indirectly with the transport of rubber from those regions, having regard to the fact that great efforts were exerted to obtain this position of acting Vice-Consul (unpaid) at Iquitos for the agent of a company which ships the rubber from those rivers to Liverpool?
§ Sir E. GREYMr. David Brown is the Resident Agent of the Booth Steamship Company at Iquitos. He is Vice-Consul, not Acting Vice-Consul. We were advised that Mr. Brown, who is also in charge of the United States interest, might properly be left in charge during the absence of His Majesty's Consul on leave, and I have no reason to doubt the propriety of this decision. So far as I am aware, no efforts were made to secure the appointment of Vice-Consul for Mr. Brown.
§ Mr. SWIFT MacNEILLIs this Mr. Brown agent of this Shipping Company which transferred rubber from those regions to England?
§ Sir E. GREYHe is the agent of the Booth Steamship Company. I do not know more about him.
§ Mr. SWIFT MacNEILLWill the right hon Gentleman inquire whether the Booth Steamship Company is the company that transfers the rubber from Putumayo where all these horrors and outrages occurred to England?
§ Sir E. GREYI had to decide whether Mr. Brown is a fit person to act temporarily for the British Consul while he is away. I took the best advice I could on that subject and I was informed he was a fit person, and I see no reason to reconsider the appointment.