§ 11. Mr. NEVILLEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the constitution of the United States of Mexico promulgated in 1917, under which power is given to the executive to compel any British subject whose presence is judged inconvenient to leave Mexican territory forthwith and without the necessity of previous notice; and whether the British Government is taking any, and, if so, what steps for the protection of British subjects and to prevent the confiscation of their property?
Mr. BALFOURHis Majesty's Government have under careful consideration the various questions affecting British interests in Mexico which have been raised by the Constitution of 1917, and they have lodged protests and reserved claims on behalf of any British subjects and companies prejudicially affected. The particular provision to which the hon. Member refers seems to embody the right of all sovereign Governments to expel from national territory persons whose presence they have reason to consider objectionable. Should the right be used in the case of any 1588 British subject without sufficiently good cause it would be open to His Majesty's Government to make such representations to the Mexican Government as the circumstances might require.