REPORT.

d

of  South  Africa  are  given  in  Appendix  C.  The  duties  of  these  Correspondents
consist  in  the  main  of  answering,  to  the  best  of  their  ability,  inquiries  addressed
to  them  by  the  Intelligence  Branch  or  by  individual  traders  ;  reporting
changes  in  customs  duties  and  customs  regulations  and  in  commercial
legislation  generally  ;  notifying  changes  in  ihe  general  financial  conditions
of  local  trade  and  in  circumstances  likely  to  affect  it,  e.g.,  condition  of  crops,
accumulation  of  stocks,  terms  of  credit,  &amp;c  ;  furnishing  prompt  information
as  to  probable  execution  of  public  works  and  as  to  calls  for  tenders  ;  and
reporting  on  the  growth  of  foreign  competition  in  the  markets  of  the
Colonies,  the  establishment  of  new  industries,  the  development  of  means  of
communication,  and  other  matters  of  commercial  or  industrial  interest.  It
has  to  be  mentioned,  however,  that  these  Correspondents  in  no  way  supersede
those  appointed  by  the  Colonial  Governments  themselves.
The  Committee  feel,  however,  that  present  arrangements  in  regard  to  these
appointments  ought  not  to  be  looked  upon  as  affording  a  permanent  settlement
of  the  matter,  even  in  respect  of  South  Africa.  Something  analogous  ought
to  be  done  with  regard  to  several  other  Colonies,  but  it  is  manifest  that  in
order  to  enable  the  proposal  to  be  effectively  carried  out  some  special
appropriation  by  Parliament  will  be  necessary.  The  funds  of  the  Committee,
meagre  and  temporary  as  they  are,  ought  not  to  be  charged  with  expenses  of
this  nature,  and  it  is  thought  that,  although  the  Committee  have  offered  to
bear  the  expense  of  remunerating  these  Correspondents  for  the  first  two  or
three  years,  the  charge  is  one  of  which  they  should  be  relieved  as  soon  as
possible  unless  their  Grant  in  Aid  can  be  largely  increased.

Siberian  and  Persian  Missions.
With  regard  to  the  commercial  missions  to  Siberia  and  Persia  which  have
been  undertaken,  it  should  be  mentioned  that  Messrs.  Cooke  and  Maclean
had  interviews  with  several  of  the  important  Chambers  of  Commerce  before
their  departure.  In  order  to  facilitate  the  work  in  connection  with  both
missions,  the  Foreign  Office  was  communicated  with  in  order  to  secure
for  Messrs.  Cooke  and  Maclean  such  assistance  as  H.M.  Diplomatic  and
Consular  Officers  could  render.  The  India  Office  was  also  communicated
with  in  regard  to  the  Persian  mission  with  a  similar  object.
Mr.  Cooke,  after  visiting  London  and  St.  Petersburg,  left  on  his  mission
on  25th  May  1903,  and  Mr.  Maclean  left  London  for  Persia  on  the  16th
January  1903.  The  instructions  for  the  conduct  of  these  missions  were
very  similar  in  character,  and  to  a  certain  extent  followed  those  under
which  Mr.  Birchenough’s  mission  to  South  Africa  and  Mr.  Worthington  s
mission  oí  1897—8  to  South  America  were  conducted.  Briefly,  the  principal
points  to  which  the  Commissioners  were  instructed  to  devote  attention  were
as  follow  :—
yd;  The  amount  of  import  and  export  trade  done  by  Siberia  and  Persia
respectively  ;  the  countries  with  which  it  is  carried  on  ;  and  the
articles  dealt  in.
(b)  The  extent  and  degree  of  effectiveness  of  foreign  competition  with
British  trade,  with  special  reference  to  classes  of  articles  at  present
Jargely  supplied  by  foreign  countries.
(c)  The  openings  which  exist  or  might  be  created  for  a  remunerative
trade  in  British  goods  not  at  present  being  imported  to  an
appreciable  extent  ;  the  reasons  why  such  trade  has  not  hitherto
been  done  or  has  been  restricted  ;  and  the  probable  extent  of  the
trade  that  might  be  done.
(d)  The  means  and  cost  of  transport  of  goods  from  foreign  markets  ;  the
trade  routes  in  the  country  ;  the  cost  and  means  of  internal
transport  ;  the  effect  of  foreign  bounties  and  drawbacks  on  the
trade  done.
(?)  The  natural  and  other  products  of  the  country  for  which  a  market
might  be  found  in  the  United  Kingdom.
E  31200.
B