2. Mr. SHIRLEY BENNasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what are the specific duties of the Commercial Attachés in France, Germany, Japan, Turkey, and China?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Acland)The Commercial Attachés for these countries render assistance generally on commercial matters to their respective Embassies and Legations. It is part of their duty to keep in touch with the Government officials and local authorities, British Consulates and Chambers of Commerce in those countries, as well as with the leading members of the British mercantile community. They collect commercial information of general utility, and may be called upon to make special investigation into individual trades in their respective countries. They report to the Foreign Office and pay periodical visits to this country in order to remain in touch with the commercial community in the United Kingdom.
3. Mr. SHIRLEY BENNasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the duties of a Vice-Consul are the same as those of a commercial agent; and whether he will consider if the commercial importance of the United States warrants the re-establishment of the post of commercial agent in New York?
§ Mr. ACLANDThe duties of the Consulate-General at New York comprise those which were formerly discharged by the commercial agent. The appointment of a commercial agent was a temporary and provisional arrangement, which was terminted after full inquiry and consideration in consultation with the Board of Trade in 1908, when the staff of the Consulate-General was increased by the appointment of an extra Vice-Consul. Experience went to show that the duties of the agent could be better discharged by an increased Consular staff, and there is at present no intention of re-establishing the post.
§ Mr. ACLANDThere is no Commercial Attaché in Venezuela.