HC Deb 04 December 1922 vol 159 cc1168-9
37. Sir HARRY BRITTAIN

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is able to state which foreign countries impose a tax upon visiting British commercial travellers; and whether he will consider making representations on this subject?

Sir P. LLOYD-GREAME

I have been asked to reply. I am sending my hon. Friend a list of the countries which impose taxes on British commercial travellers. I do not think, however, that the imposition of these taxes would of itself constitute a ground for representations.

Sir H. BRITTAIN

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider reciprocating or retaliating?

Sir P. LLOYD-GREAME

That question was discussed in the House last Session. The difficulty is this: Where there is most favoured nation treatment you cannot adopt what is equivalent to retaliation against one country, unless you apply the same treatment to most of the others, and so lose much more than you gain.