HC Deb 31 May 1892 vol 5 cc377-8
MR. LABOUCHERE

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, with regard to the Persian tobacco concession, whether he is aware that the Hon. R. Grosvenor, the Chairman of the Tobacco Corporation Company, is reported in the Financial News, 23rd December, 1891, to have said, in a speech to the shareholders of the Company made on 22nd December, 1891— It is a concession granted for a definite and favourable purpose to a British subject, with the knowledge of the British Minister at Teheran, translated, certified, and registered at his Legation"; whether the Hon. R. Grosvenor was correct in making this statement; and whether he is aware that, at the adjourned general meeting of the Tobacco Corporation Company held on 22nd April, 1892, the Hon. R. Grosvenor said, according to the report in the Times of the next day's date— The British Government had endorsed the action of Her Majesty's representative at Teheran, and their good offices were afterwards placed at the disposal of the Tobacco Corporation, in order to obtain for them from the Persian Government the compensation to which they were entitled"?

MR. J. W. LOWTHER

The statements referred to appear to be correct. In accordance with the practice in Persia in the case of contracts or concessions in which British subjects are concerned, the concession was duly registered at the British Legation.

MR. LABOUCHERE

I would ask the hon. Member whether the words he has just used do not contradict the statement already made by him in the House.

MR. LOWTHER

I fail to see any contradiction. The statement I made was that the concession had been obtained without the sanction or knowledge of Her Majesty's Government; and my answer was that after the concession had been obtained it was registered at the British Legation.