§ 5. Major-General Sir ALFRED KNOXasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs for how long the present representative of the Chinese Consular Service 1144 has been attached to the Foreign Office: and for what period his immediate predecessors were so attached?
§ Sir J. SIMONThere are at present two members of His Majesty's Consular Service in China working in the Foreign Office. One has been specially attached since October, 1925, in connection with the various negotiations with the Chinese Government and has thus worked in the Foreign Office for 6½ years. The other, who is attached in accordance with the long standing practice referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend in his question of the 30th of May, has worked in the Foreign Office for one year and eight months. His immediate predecessors worked respectively for nine months, three years nine months and nine months.
§ Sir A. KNOXDoes the Foreign Secretary not think it advisable to send out this official, who has been at the Foreign Office for 6½ years, in order that he may gain some first-hand knowledge of the present conditions in China?
§ Sir J. SIMONFrom my own knowledge I can say that the official referred to is extremely competent, and we think his retention is in the public interest.
§ Sir A. KNOXIs it not a fact that this official is out of touch with the feeling of British residents in China?