§ Sir W. SEAGERasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the great progress being made by German trade in China and the Far East to the detriment of the British trade; and whether, since this state of affairs is due to the inadequacy of official aid to British trade in this vast territory, he will consider the advisability of increasing the Government staff in order to safeguard our trade interests in these markets which have such great possibilities?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONI am aware that German trade in China and the Far East is showing signs of recovery, but I think this is attributable to other reasons rather than to lack of official aid given to British trade. I am afraid that in the present state of the national finances it is impossible to undertake the expense of additional staff.