§ 3. Colonel ENGLANDasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many members of the Far Eastern Department of the Foreign Office have any personal knowledge of China; and whether he is encouraging the policy already adopted by one Government Department of enabling its chief members to visit those parts of the. world with the affairs of which they are more especially connected in their work in London?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINThree members of the present staff of the Far Eastern Department. of the Foreign Office have personal knowledge of China, two being members of the China Consular Service with an expert knowledge of the country, extending over, I believe, 29 years' and 20 years' residence in that country. As regards the second part of the question, the hon. and gallant Member is perhaps not aware that the posts filled by Foreign Office officials in London and members of the Diplomatic Service abroad are interchangeable. The service of His Majesty's present Minister at Peking, to take only one example, combines two periods of service in the Far East, with service both in junior and senior posts at the Foreign Office.
Mr. BECKETTCan the right hon. Gentleman say, in regard to the members of the Chinese Consular Service in London to whom he refers, how long they have been back from China, and whether they have experience of the present China?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI must have notice of a question as to exactly how long they have been back here.