as the result of its inquiries were adopted in principle by
the Foreign Office. The consular service is now grouped into three main
divisions: (1) the general service; (2) Levant and Persia; and (3)
China, Japan, Korea and Siam. The general consular service is graded
into three divisions: first grade, consuls-general, salary L1000 with
local allowances; second grade, consuls-general and consuls, salary L800
and local allowances; third grade, consuls, salary L600, with local
allowances. Vice-consuls have an annual salary of L350, rising by annual
increments of L15 to L450. In the general consular service appointments
are sometimes made to the higher offices from the ranks, but more
usually from a select list of nominees, who must pass a qualifying
examination. A proportion of the vacancies are reserved for competition
amongst candidates who have had actual commercial experience. Divisions
2 and 3 are recruited by open competition. There were at one time a
small number of commercial agents whose business consisted in watching
and reporting on the commerce, industries and products of special
districts, and in answering inquiries on commercial subjects. Their
duties were subsequently transferred to the consular staff, and a new
class of officers, consular attaches, created. The consular attaches
divide their time between special investigations abroad, and visits to
manufacturing districts in the United Kingdom. The headquarters of the
commercial attaches in Europe, except those at Paris and Constantinople,
were transferred to London, without defined districts, in 1907 (see
_Report on the System of British Commercial Attaches and Agents_, 1908,
Cd. 3610). "Pro-consuls" are frequently appointed for the purpose of
administering oaths, taking affidavits or affirmations, and performing
notarial acts under the Commissioners for Oaths Acts 1889.

The position of the United States consuls is minutely described in the
Regulations, Washington, 1896. Under various treaties and conventions
they enjoy large privileges and jurisdiction. By the treaty of 1816 with
Sweden the United States government agreed that the consuls of the two
states respectively should be sole judges in disputes between captains
and crews of vessels. (Up to 1906 there were eighteen treaties
containing this clause.) By convention with France in 1853 they likewise
agreed that the consuls of both countries should be permitted to hold
real estate, and to have the "poli