§ 1. Mr. LUNNasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs with regard to the law enacted by the Turkish Government which prohibits Foreign subjects from exercising their trades and professions in Turkey, whether His Majesty's Government has instituted any negotiations with the Turkish Government with a view to alleviating the position of British subjects affected or whether, in 1180 the event of such negotiations not having taken place or having taken place and failed, His Majesty's Government will take steps to repatriate such British subjects as have been reduced to destitution through the working of the law?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir John Simon)I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question put on this subject on the 30th January by the hon. Member for Normanton (Mr. T. Smith). Representations on this subject were made to the Turkish Government on behalf of His Majesty's Government when the law of June, 1932, was passed; and as a result the complete application of the law was subsequently postponed until June, 1934. Most of the British subjects concerned are not recent arrivals in Turkey but derive their nationality from descent through one or more generations from an ancestor who went there from Malta or from some other British territory. The question of their repatriation is therefore a difficult one. It is, however, under close examination, and in the meantime, as I stated on the 30th January, His Majesty's Consular Officers in Turkey have been authorised to grant monetary relief in necessitous cases.
§ Mr. LUNNWhen the matter is under examination, will the right hon. Gentleman inform the House if there is something to communicate?
§ Sir J. SIMONIf the position improves, I shall be very glad to do so.