§ 91. Mr. HURDasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether an arrangement has been made with the Canadian Government whereby the services of British Consuls in all foreign countries will be available for the promotion of trade between Canada and those countries in co-operation with the Canadian Government; whether, in these circumstances, the Canadian Government has decided not to appoint separate Canadian agents in those countries; and what are the terms of the arrangement?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEBritish Consular officers are entrusted with the task of promoting the trade of the British Empire generally. In 1912 an arrangement, which is still in force, was come to between the Canadian Minister of Trade and Commerce and Viscount Grey, at that time Minister for Foreign Affairs, for the establishment of more intimate relations between the British Consular Service and the Dominion of Canada, so as to assist the trade and commerce of the Dominion with foreign countries. I have seen a Press report of a decision on the part of the Canadian Government in the sense indicated in the latter part of the question, but I have not yet received any official communication on the subject.