HC Deb 19 May 1915 vol 71 c2343
112. Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTT

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has considered the possibilities of Esperanto as an international commercial language for the development of trade relations between this country and Russia; and whether he will consult the Russian authorities as to the practicability of improving Anglo-Russian commerce by encouraging the study and use of Esperanto?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

The suggestion made by my hon. Friend is an interesting one, but I doubt if any useful purpose would be served by conveying it to the Russian Government at the present time.

Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTT

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Esperanto is very largely spoken in Russia, and that it is a very easy language to learn?