§ Mr. KINGasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether it is the practice to advance money to Foreign Embassies to meet the necessary expenses of upkeep; if so, whether the Foreign Office is consulted before such advances are made; 201W whether such advances are in the nature of gifts or of loans; how many such advances have been made since 4th August, 1914; and what is the total aggregate amount so advanced; if not, why money has been so advanced to the Russian Embassy, in view of the fact that the British Government is in no diplomatic relationship to the Russian Government; and whether he will give an assurance that no further advances will be made to Mr. Nabokoff or to the Russian Embassy?
Mr. BALFOURIt is not the usual practice to advance money to foreign Embassies in this country to meet expenses of upkeep, but such advances may be made on the recommendation of the Foreign Office in special circumstances, if this is considered desirable. It does not appear that any useful purpose would be served by granting a Return of such advances made since the 4th of August, 1914, and I do not propose to do so. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.