§ Mr. FIELDasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the allegation that almost 90 per cent. of the Consuls were either Germans or of 1069W Teutonic extraction; whether those alien agents have been eliminated from the service; and whether precautions have been adopted to ensure that commercial men of experience in home trade and commercial produce shall be appointed?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDIn regard to the first part of this question, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to question No. 11 of to-day and to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for East; Kent on the 24th of June. As regards the second part of the question, a Selection Committee has been appointed, containing representatives of commerce and industry, to make recommendations for appointment in the case of Commercial Attaches and Consuls.