§ Sir P. Hannonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will state the circumstances under which Mr. Arthur Abbott, attached to His Majesty's Embassy at Rio de Janeiro, has been relieved of his duties; whether he has taken into account the 25-years' experience of this officer of the social and economical conditions in South America before he was superseded by a junior officer; and whether he will consider retaining during the period of the war public servants whose qualifications and long experience would be of use in promoting the interests of this country?
§ Mr. BrackenI have been asked to reply. I am aware of the long experience1254W of Brazil which the officer in question has enjoyed in the Consular Service, but in view of the specialised activities of a Press Department my predecessor decided that a change was necessary. The considerations mentioned in the last part of the Question are habitually borne in mind in such cases.