§ 1. Sir ROBERT THOMASasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that a Perso-German treaty of friendship, to which are appended a domiciliary agreement, and a trade, customs, and shipping agreement, was signed in Teheran on 17th February; what is the position of Great Britain as regards her relations with Persia in these respects; and, seeing that the above-mentioned treaty may place this country at a disadvantage by comparison with Germany, will he initiate negotiations to establish similar relations with Persia?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Godfrey Locker-Lampson)The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Existing treaty relations between this country and Persia are based on the principle of reciprocal most-favoured-nation treatment, and there is no reason to apprehend that British subjects in Persia and their trade will be placed at a disadvantage by comparison with German nationals. Negotiations for a new general treaty of commerce and navigation have, however, already been initiated with the Persian Government.