§ 33. Captain CROOKSHANKasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he proposes to post a representative of the commercial diplomatic service at San Francisco in order to push British trade in the Western States of the United States of America?
§ Mr. GILLETT (Secretary, Overseas Trade Department)The commercial work of the Consular officers in the Western States of the United States has recently been placed under the supervision of the Consul-General at San Francisco, to whose staff an additional officer has been appointed, who will have the rank of Consul and will devote his whole time to commercial work. In view of these recent changes, I do not consider that any farther increase in commercial representation in the Western States is at present necessary.
§ Captain CROOKSHANKIs it the case that the Consul-General at San Francisco has full power to act himself, or must he act under the Commercial Counsellor at Washington?
§ Mr. GILLETTNot under the Commercial Counsellor at Washington.
§ Mr. HANNONWill the hon. Gentleman say whether the Consul-General at San Francisco can take action on his own initiative to arrange for the development of business with this country in that part of the world?
§ Mr. GILLETTCertainly, that is my intention.
§ 41. Major NATHANasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department by how many trade commissioners his Department is represented in the United States of America; and by how many such officials the United States of America is represented in this country?
§ Mr. GILLETTHis Majesty's Government are represented in the United States by a Commercial Counsellor and two commercial secretaries. The United States Government are represented in this country at the present time by an acting Commercial Attaché, an Assistant Commercial Attaché, five trade commissioners and two assistant trade commissioners. These numbers are, however, not constant.
§ Major NATHANMay I ask whether His Majesty's Government will not, in commercial competition, as in naval competition, pursue a policy of parity?
§ Mr. GILLETTThat is what we have in mind, to some extent at any rate.
§ Mr. HANNONWill the hon. Gentleman indicate what steps he has taken to increase and to expand our commercial representation in the United States with the object of getting more business?