§ 3. Miss WILKINSONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any communication has been received from the Government of Persia proposing the termination of the capitulatory rights and privileges at present enjoyed by British and certain other foreign residents at Persia; whether he will inform the House of the terms of any such communication; and whether he will say what reply His Majesty's Government has made or proposes to make?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONThe answer to the first part of the hon. Lady's question is in the affirmative. The gist of the Persian announcement has already appeared in the Press, and I have nothing to add to it at the present time. With regard to the third part of the question, His Majesty's Government have not yet returned a reply to the Persian Government, and it is not customary to state in advance the substance of a note to a foreign Power.
§ Miss WILKINSONWhat is the reason for the communication that has been received from the Persian Government?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONThe Persian Government, I understand, wish to terminate the capitulatory privileges enjoyed by us.
§ Miss WILKINSONIt is, of course, obvious that they wish to terminate them, but I want to ask the hon. Gentleman why they wish to terminate them?
§ Colonel WEDGWOODMay we take it that the suggestion of the Persian Government will receive the very favourable consideration of His Majesty's Government?
§ 8. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what privilegs, capitulations, and immunities are enjoyed by British subjects in Persia; whether these are enjoyed by nationals of other European countries; and which of these privileges is the Persian Government seeking to terminate?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONThe rights which are enjoyed by British subjects in Persia, and which the Persian Government desire to terminate, may be summarised as the privilege of having all cases, civil or criminal, in a which they are defendants, tried by extra-territorial jurisdiction, conferred by Order in Council upon the British Consular Court. This right is derived from Article 9 of the Anglo-Persian Treaty of the 4th of March, 1857, wherby most-favoured-nation treatment is guaranteed to British subjects. French citizens and Spanish subjects also enjoy extra-territorial jurisdiction in virtue of the express provisions of their respective treaties with Persia, which are in perpetuity. Various other countries also possessed similar rights guaranteed by their several treaties, but each of these instruments contained a denunciatory clause.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYMay I ask whether, in view of the good government that has been established in Persia and the order that prevails there, we are viewing this matter favourably?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONI have already stated that the whole of this matter is now engaging the careful consideration of the Government.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYDoes not the Under-Secretary see that if we give up these capitulations in Turkey we can hardly refuse the same concession in Persia?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is a matter of argument.
§ Sir HARRY BRITTAINIs it not the fact that one-third of the entire revenue of Persia is raised by British enterprise?
§ Mr. RILEYHas there been any interchange of views on this matter between His Majesty's Government, the Italian Government and the French Government?