§ 49. Sir J. BUTCHERasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that in many foreign countries British commercial travellers have to pay high fees for permission to enter and transact business in these countries, while foreign commercial travellers pay nothing on entering this country; whether he will endeavour by diplomatic means to obtain reciprocal and fair treatment for British commercial travellers in those foreign countries; and whether, in the case of any, and, if so, which, of these foreign countries, we are prohibited by treaty engagements from imposing similar fees on foreign commercial travellers to those exacted in those countries from British commercial travellers?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEI have been asked to reply to this question. I am aware of the facts referred to by my hon. Friend, but I think it would be useless to attempt to persuade foreign countries 706 which favour the policy of taxing foreign commercial travellers to waive the tax in the case of British travellers. Any case of discrimination against British subjects would, of course, be taken up. We are not prohibited by treaty from imposing fees on commercial travellers, but in view of the most-favoured nation Clause such fees would have to be uniform; it would not be possible in the case of the numerous countries with which we have commercial treaties embodying that Clause to vary the fees payable according to the nationality of the traveller.
§ Sir J. BUTCHERCannot the treaties containing the most-favoured nation Clause, which prohibits us doing what appears desirable, be denounced?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEOf course, it would be competent to denounce all the commercial treaties, but I think that would be a very extreme course to take in order to meet a relatively small grievance.