THE BRITISH BAGMAN ABROAD.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11502, 7 February 1903, Page 3

THE BRITISH BAGMAN ABROAD.

A MEBJ. COHIUKCI-X, IN. THE " PALL MALL GAHTTB. While crossing the Mediterranean from Orah to Malaga I chanced to make the acquaintance of a Belgian commercial traveller who represented a large glassmanufacturing house in Brussels. He had been working Algeria, and now hoped to fill up his book with Spanish orders. Should they prove to be on as extensive a scale as his wonderful assortment of sample impedimenta, his "employers should be right merry of heart. How in the world he managed to get about with all that huge conglomeration of packing-cases was a problem insoluble to my penetrative genius. The very small personal experience I had had of clearing samples through various foreign Custom-houses as an Englishman imbued me with a feeling of awe, well-nigh of reverence, for this brisk young salesman. What was his "open sesame" at the closed doors of Consul and Vice-Consul? V

•Maohiavel'i diplomacy, Job'f patience, Palissy's perseverance, the ArchangelGabriel's sweet temper; these were onlya few- of the attributes that this,wonderful being, disguised as a young man of ordinary intelligence, must possess. I ventured witii much trepidation to question thia demi-god. " *- . "Oh!" said he, cheerfully, "I've really precious little trouble in the matter; you see, it is the business of my Government's agent to see me through all right, and* should there be any hitch, he has to face the music." "But how is it worked?" said I. •■We. are now approaching Malaga," he replied. "Well! I advised my agent there that I was coming, so that he will meet the steamer. He knows exactly 4iow many cases I have and the contents of each. &-> that, as the papers are to' a large extent prepared beforehand, the goods iwill be passed without undue delay. The "agent will Bee the cases conveyed to a room or rooms, already engaged by him for me, and they will be unpacked awaiting my arrival. I '■hall' supervise their arrangement, 00 as to show off the goods to the best advantage. All likely buyers hate been already advised of my visit, so'that all that will then remain for me to do is, when they come, to expatiate on the excellence of my goods and book orders. Any special fad on the part of, a would-be purchaser, any special design required, or any adaptation, these points ■ are carefully noted, and my agent forwards full particulars to my house- in Brussels. go really, it is almost as easy as A B C." I remember landing at a Portuguese port on one occasion, in the company of the .British Vice-Consul, a British commercial tnmsUfcTt, and a German. It was by, the reply in effect xn*, 'l^M^jtooltf.' yl Vice |f he Would of the best houses in co that be could call' 'uso-V-w*m,' £** The) • can't be bothered. You mast find out for yourself." ', The commercial, feeling aggrieved, was about to press his suit, when the German nudged him. "Don't you bother," be whispered, 'Til get- you what you want." . He was as good as his word. He took the Englishman and introduced him to -the German 1 Consul as his friend, and he was furnished at once with the addresses he required. The fact of the matter is that most civilised Governments, through their Consular Service, seek by all the means in their power to push the trade of their particular country. They "will readily give every facility to their commercial representative", and will back him up through thick and thin for all they are,worth;- Our commercial must be content to fight for, himself ; unaided he must battle -with, the new condition of trade in tlie tooth-and-nail j war that is being assiduously waged with [his competitors.

The British Consul is a diplomat, ia j many instances an aristocrat, who dare not, if he would, soil his immaculate ringers with trade The Vice-Consul is, as often as not, a foreigner I It goes -without saying that an appeal to such a one from a competing firm' 3 representative is foredoomed, and will result, assuredly, in loss ■,' of time and temper. TM* Mediterranean littoral in point of consular assistance is a most unhappy hunting ground for iiho British commercial. Turkey is on awful exaimnle of trade hind- . ranee and hideous extortion, but, were it possible, the North African coast is worse. Take Morocco—how many Consuls have been appointed wiuun the last twenty years who had any notion that they wertt going to the country, and what qualiflcat tions had they for the office? - What won- - der that under such a system important business.communications remain for days ' or even weeks unanswered; what wonder that the unfortunate British commercial would rather lose a possible chance of trade . than apply to his Majesty's unbusinesslike representatives for assistance. . Yet j the English Press is somewhat fond' of be* littling the British traveller in comparison, with the German, forgetting how seriously he is hajjdicapped. Let the Foreign Office take a wrinkle from the Belgians, and appoint thoroughly competent agents in t foreign lands, not. only, to furnish' them - with statistics and trade reports, which they have at length seen the need of, but to forward his interests in, every way pot* sible. Such interests are- their interests, , also,, and the interests of the Empire. Unless this fatal policy of laisser faire be j abandoned, and toe vital importance of ' State aid,' not hindrance, be recognised, . i good-bye to the commercial supremacy os" ' { this "nation of traders."