§ 10. Mr. Manningham-Bullerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he intends to repeal the provisions of Sections 3 and 4 of the Diplomatic Privileges Act, 1708, so that the penalties in these sections shall not apply to proceedings against employees of U.N.R.R.A. who may be granted diplomatic privileges.
§ Mr. Manningham-BullerDoes not my right hon Friend consider it desirable that persons and solicitors proceeding against employees of U.N.R.R.A. who are accorded diplomatic privilege, should cease to be regarded as "violators of the law of nations" and "disturbers of the public repose," and liable to "pains, penalties and corporal punishment"?
§ Mr. EdenI do not think that quite arose out of these Sections. As I understand it, the Preamble to the Act refers to
several turbulent and disorderly persons insulted in an outrageous manner the Ambassador of His Tzarish Majesty, taking him by violence out of his coach in the public street and detaining him in custody for several hours contrary to the law of nations and the rights and privileges which ambassadors and public ministers have at all times possessed.I am not apprehensive that that will happen again.
§ Mr. Manningham-BullerMay I ask my right hon. Friend to look at Sections 3 and 4 of that Act, which are still in force, and which say that solicitors and others shall be liable to corporal punishment?