§ 8. Sir RICHARD COOPERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many British Consuls and Vice-Consuls there are respectively in Sweden, Norway, Holland, and Denmark; and how many in each of these countries are British by birth?
§ Sweden: Salaried officers, 11, including one Consul-General; unsalaried officers, 22 (of whom 20 are foreigners).
§ Norway: Salaried officers, 34; unsalaried officers, 22 (of whom 21 are foreigners).
§ Holland: Salaried officers, 11, including one Consul-General; unsalaried officers, 13 (of whom 10 are foreigners).
§ Denmark: Nine salaried officers; 18 unsalaried officers (of whom 16 are foreigners).
§ All the salaried officers are British by birth. Eight of the unsalaried officers, namely, two in Sweden, one in Norway, three in Holland and two in Denmark, are also British by birth.
§ Sir R. COOPERMay I ask if it is a fact that His Majesty's Government are determined, as opportunity affords, to replace Consuls, Vice-Consuls, and principal members of staffs who are of foreign birth by people who are of British birth?
Mr. BALFOURI think the whole tendency is in that direction. I would not like to pledge myself that we should never appoint a foreigner, though I think in many cases it is quite unnecessary.
§ Sir C. HENRYMay I ask whether most of the foreigners are Scandinavians?
Mr. BALFOURI am afraid that I have given all the information in my power. I should imagine that they are.
§ Colonel W. THORNECould the right hon. Gentleman say whether any of the gentlemen mentioned are of German nationality?