§ SIR WILLIAM FRASERsaid, he wished to say a few words in putting the Question of which he had given notice. At this time of the year there were a great many British subjects travelling in France; and it was of great importance that they should know whether or not they were required to carry passports; and, if so, whether the French visé was necessary? No one who had any experience of the subordinate officials of the French Government could fail to be aware that they were rather difficult people to deal with, and occasionally went beyond the orders of their superiors. A year or two since the French Government gave out that no inquiries would be made of British 1796 subjects travelling in France; but cases had come to his knowledge in which these orders had not been carried out. He hoped the hon. Gentleman the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs would be able to give a clear and definite statement as to whether passports were required on the part of British subjects in France.
§ MR. LAYARDsaid, it was well known that the Emperor of the French, with great liberality, had removed all restrictions upon British subjects travelling in France. He had never heard any complaints of the nature mentioned by the hon. Gentleman. French visés were not required for British subjects, nor was a passport necessary; but occasionally a traveller might be asked for his passport in order to identify his nationality. But although a passport was not essentially necessary, he should advise travellers to provide themselves with passports. He had always received the greatest civility from the French authorities when travelling, and he had never heard of a bonâ fide British subject being subjected to inconvenience. The countries in which a passport was not required at present were Bavaria, Belgium, Denmark, Holland, France, Italy, Prussia, Spain, Sweden, and Norway. In all other Continental countries passports were required.