§ SIR WALTER FOSTER (Derbyshire, Ilkeston)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the attention of the Government has been directed to the danger of the advance of plague by way of Persia and Turkey into Europe; and whether they are taking, or will take, steps to obtain the co-operation of the Great Powers in inducing the Governments of Persia and Turkey to 998 take effectual measures for checking the advance of plague in those countries.
§ * MR. BRODRICKHer Majesty's Government believe that the principles of the Venice (Plague) Convention of 1897 are sufficient to protect any country adopting them from the danger of an invasion of plague. That Convention is based on the principle that a country should place its sanitary organisation in such a condition that it can easily deal with any case of plague that may be imported into or be detected in its territory. Her Majesty's Government would be very glad to see the Governments of Persia and Turkey place their sanitary organisation in a condition that would enable them to adopt the Convention and carry out its provisions, and have, in concert with the other Signatory Powers, taken steps to make their views known to the Governments in question.