5. Commander OLIVER LOCKERLAMPSONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many couriers with sealed bags are permitted to travel for Arcos or other trade organisations associated with the Soviet?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONNo couriers with sealed bags are permitted to travel 345 for Arcos Limited. The Soviet Trade Delegation is the only trade organisation associated with the Soviet which is allowed to send and receive sealed bags; the weight of the bags is limited to five kilogrammes a week under the Trade Agreement and subsequent correspondence; subject to this limit the number of couriers employed is a matter of the convenience of the delegation.
Commander LOCKER-LAMPSONDo any of the British Dominions enjoy similar privileges to these trading agents in this country?
6. Commander LOCKER-LAMPSONasked how many representatives of Arcos, or other commercial agents of the Soviet, enjoy immunity from arrest and search under the Trade Agreement of 1921?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONThe chairman of the Soviet Trade Delegation appointed under the terms of the Anglo-Russian Trade Agreement of 1921 is the only commercial agent of the Soviet Government who enjoys diplomatic immunity in this country.
§ Sir JOSEPH NALLIs this person the only one to be granted diplomatic status?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONYes, Sir. As I have said, the chairman of the Soviet Trade Delegation is the only commercial agent of the Soviet Government to enjoy diplomatic immunity in this country.
§ Sir J. NALLAre not some other members granted diplomatic status?
§ Mr. ALBERYWhat need is there for having any trade delegation in this country?
§ Captain WEDGWOOD BENNWill the hon. Gentleman tell the House what Minister or party it was that introduced the trade delegation here?
§ 7. Sir PHILIP RICHARDSONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Soviet Government has appointed any official agents to reside in England as provided for in Clause 5 of the trade agreement of 16th March, 1921; and, if so, how many of them there are, and whether they enjoy any rights and immunities as set forth in Clauses 4 and 5 of the said agreement that are not enjoyed by nationals of other foreign States sojourning in England for the purposes of trade?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONYes, Sir. There is at present one official agent of the Soviet Government appointed under the Anglo-Russian Trade Agreement and resident in the United Kingdom; the rights and immunities which he enjoys under the trade agreement are not enjoyed by any foreign nationals, not being official representatives of their respective Governments.
§ 8. Major Sir RICHARD BARNETTasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state what Governments, other than the Government of Soviet Russia, have the right to appoint official trading agents in this country with immunity from arrest and search and with liberty to communicate freely with their own Government by post, telegraph, and wireless telegraphy in cypher, and to receive and despatch couriers with sealed bags exempt from examination; and if he will state how many officia1 trading agents of the Russian Soviet Government enjoy these immunities and privileges?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONNo Government other than the Soviet Government enjoys the right to appoint trading agents in this country with the privileges specified by the hon. and gallant Member. The only trading agent of the Soviet Government who enjoys such immunities and privileges is the chairman of the Soviet Trade Delegation in London.
§ Sir R. BARNETTWill the hon. Gentleman say what reason there is that this particular official should be given privileges and immunities that are not enjoyed by any other trade representative in this country?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONThe reason is that the Russian Government is the 347 only Government that has a monopoly of foreign trade, but supposing any other Government adopted that system and then chose to initiate negotiations for the purpose of getting a representative' here, we should then have to consider it.
§ Mr. RILEYIs it not the fact that the diplomatic representatives of other Governments enjoy similar privileges?
§ Dr. WATTSHas the attention of the hon. Gentleman been called to a statement in to-day's papers made by a former Member of the House, Mr. Newbolt?
§ Mr. NEIL MACLEANIs it not the case that British Diplomatic Agents enjoy reciprocal treatment from the Soviet Government to what is extended here, by His Majesty's Government?