§ 77. Colonel Gomme-Duncanasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why 55 persons are employed in the British Embassy in China, having regard to the fact that our Minister there has not yet received the recognition of the Chinese Government.
§ Mr. NuttingThe present staff of Her Majesty's Embassy at Peking paid by the Foreign Office is 50, of whom 17 were appointed from the United Kingdom and 33 are Chinese clerks and menial staff.
Although formal recognition has not been accorded by the Chinese Government, Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires has to keep Her Majesty's Government informed of developments in China. Owing to the closure of most of Her Majesty's Consulates in China, an extra burden falls upon Her Majesty's Embassy in the protection of British interests.