§ Mr. Viantasked the Minister of Health why certain persons, non-inoculated against yellow fever, are allowed under the International Sanitary Convention for Aerial Navigation, signed at Washington last year, to travel without either inoculation or quarantine; and why, since such people can be exempted from the requirements of this Convention, other passengers from this country cannot also obtain exemption from this regulation.
§ Mr. WillinkThe hon. Member is no doubt referring to paragraph (3) of Article XIV of the International Sanitary Convention for Aerial Navigation, 1944, relating to yellow fever. The hon. Member will see, on reference to that paragraph, that the persons to whom the contracting Governments undertake to grant unimpeded passage, notwithstanding that they are not inoculated against yellow fever, are persons whose unobstructed passage is absolutely and immediately essential on grounds of high policy, and who bear a certificate issued by their Government that such passage is urgently necessary. The reason for this provision is, I think, sufficiently indicated by its terms. The same paragraph also provides that such certificates of urgency are to be issued only in the most exceptional cases.