THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT AND TRADE ORGANIZATION So far we have been concerned with that part of the organiza tion of trade which has been in the main voluntary; we now come to consider the extent to which the British Government has engaged in that sphere. The functions of the British Board of Trade in relation to commerce had, in consequence of the disap pearance of the English protecting tariff in the middle of the 19th century and of the creation of a commercial department in the Foreign Office (1871), been reduced practically to those of obtain ing information as to the tariffs of other countries and of pre paring trade statistics. Subsequently the Board regained its functions in connection with the negotiation of commercial treaties, with representations to foreign Governments and gen erally with the protection of British trade interests abroad. The proper performance of these duties required improved means of obtaining information as to commercial conditions abroad and the complete triumph of the laissez faire principle in its appli cation to foreign trade in the middle of the nineteenth century was followed by a gradual policy of the State taking a judicious interest in commerce. This development in policy was marked by the appointment of a few commercial attaches to embassies and legations dating back to 188o; by the establishment in 1900 of a commercial intelligence branch of the Board of Trade to provide a new service of commercial information for British traders; and by the establishment in 1908 of trade commissioners in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa as a result of recommendations approved by the Colonial Conference in the previous year. The State thus began to take a share in the provi sion of information which, as we have seen, may be claimed to be one of the functions of the chamber of commerce.
During the World War, Government intervention in matters affecting trade and commerce was, of course, urgently necessary in many directions. These activities were gradually discontinued after the cessation of hostilities but one permanent development remained. This was the conversion of the commercial intelligence branch into a department of commercial intelligence which in turn became in 1917 the department of Overseas Trade, a joint department of the Foreign Office and Board of Trade.
The department of Overseas Trade has now at its disposal for the purpose of obtaining commercial information and of assist ing British commerce generally a much more comprehensive organization overseas than has ever existed previously. In the empire there are 13 trade commissioners stationed in the domin ions, India, and some of the more important colonies. In other parts of the empire the department has the assistance of imperial trade correspondents. In foreign countries in place of the pre war commercial attaches a new service, styled the commercial diplomatic service, has been established consisting of officers styled commercial counsellors in the higher grades and commercial secretaries in the lower grades. These officers are stationed in the most important foreign capitals—about 25 in number. They are members of the staff of the British embassy or legation at the place in question and an important part of their duties is to give the ambassador or minister assistance in all matters affecting com merce with which he may have to deal. The service is admin istered by the department of Overseas Trade.