Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the uncertainty which prevails as to the exact articles of which the import is prohibited under recent restriction of import orders, and the delay and expense involved to traders, he has considered the practicability of sending a full list of the prohibitions to the chief British consular officer in the United States; of authorising him to interpret the application of the order in relation to specific articles; and of admitting goods certified by him as not coming within the scope of the prohibition?
Mr. RUNCIMANConsular officers at all seaports are kept informed by the Foreign Office as to the prohibitions of import from time to time established in this country and specific cases of doubt referred by them to His Majesty's Government are dealt with as rapidly as possible. I regret, however, that I cannot see my way to adopting the suggestions contained in the two last parts of the question.