§ 5 and 6. Mr. GRATTAN DOYLEasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign 781 Affairs (1) what steps, if any, have been taken respecting the appointment of practical business men as British Consuls and Vice-Consuls in foreign countries in order to give full effect to the efforts or representatives of British manufacturers and traders for whom passage may be found on British ships proceeding to distant ports; if his Department will, in conjunction with the Board of Trade, make business training and knowledge one of the conditions of such appointments; (2) how many enemy aliens were acting as British Consuls and Vice-Consuls prior to August 1914; how many are still retained in such positions; if any have been appointed since the signing of the Armistice; if it is the intention of the Foreign Office to consult with the Board of Trade before such positions are filled with a view to the selection of practical business men of British nationality; and if it will henceforth be regarded as a primary condition that those selected as Ambassadors, Consuls, etc., shall be able to speak and write the language of the country to which they are accredited?
§ Sir HAMAR GREENWOOD (Additional Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs)Before the War there were no Consular officers of enemy nationality in the salaried Consular Service.
In the unsalaried service there were thirty-seven German and thirteen Austro-Hungarians, but on the outbreak of war these appointments ceased automatically, and no ex-enemy alien has been appointed since the signing of the Armistice.
A Committee of Selection on which the Board of Trade is represented, and which also comprises representatives of the Association of British Chambers of Commerce and of the Federation of British Industries, has been examining the qualifications of candidates for the salaried Consular Service. There is now a long waiting list of candidates who have passed the scrutiny of the Committee, but for whom posts are not at present available. Especial regard has been paid to the commercial and business experience of candidates.
The appropriate language qualifications are regarded as of primary importance in making individual appointments in the Consular and other Foreign Services.
Lieut.-Colonel Sir F. HALLWill the hon. Baronet undertake that in the 782 Consular Service in the future there will be no appointments unless those appointed are of British nationality?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI can undertake that so far as the salaried Consular Service is concerned but I cannot undertake it in regard to the unsalaried Consular Service because in these cases there are no British residents.
§ Mr. PEMBERTON BILLINGIf it is essential to have a British Consul why do we not send one? Why not have a British representative of our interests?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThere are some six hundred of these unsalaried Consuls and it is not possible, having regard to the need of economy to appoint salaried Consuls in these six hundred cases.
Sir F. HALLIs the hon. Baronet not aware that these unsalaried Consuls are able to obtain such information as may be of vital value to the country in case of trouble, and will he see whether it is not possible to reconsider the matter with a view of having these positions filled by people of British nationality?