§ 1. Sir EDWIN CORNWALLasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many salaried Consular officials were employed in enemy countries before the outbreak of War; whether he can give any detailed information as to how many are now receiving their salaries; and whether the duties they are now discharging are in every respect specially calculated to promote British trade interests after the War?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY Of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Lord Robert Cecil)The number of salaried Consular officers who were employed in enemy countries before the War is as follows:
With the exception of three, who have retired, one whose services have been lent to the military authorities, and one who is a prisoner of war, all the above-mentioned Consular officers are employed in various capacities and continue to receive their salaries or the salaries of other posts to which they have been appointed. With regard to the last part of the question, though it is certainly part of the duties of these officials to promote British trade interests after the War, I do not know that it would be true to say that in every case their duties were in every respect specially calculated with that object. The most important matter at the moment is that duties should be calculated to promote success in carrying on the War, and this must be the paramount consideration at present.
In Austria-Hungary … … 5 In Germany … … 9 In Turkey … … 23 In Bulgaria … … 3 Total … … 40