§ Mr. KENNEDYasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the German Consuls at Valencia refused a cargo of oranges wrapped in paper bearing a portrait of the Queen of Spain on the ground that she is English; were Spanish oranges wrapped in metal stamped paper said to be injurious to health, but owned by a German firm providing thousands of pounds annually to this firm, allowed to be shipped; and do our Consuls issue certificates costing 5s. each certifying that oranges so packed in metal stamped paper arc not the property of nor is any person interested in the said merchandise an enemy or treated as an enemy?
§ Mr. LONGA report has appeared in a Spanish newspaper to the effect that the German Consul at Valencia refused to issue a safe conduct for a vessel if she loaded oranges wrapped in paper bearing portraits of various Royal and other personages. I am not aware how much truth there is in the report. The metal-stamped paper to which the hon. Member refers is not owned, manufactured or printed by a German firm, but the gold stamping machines are supplied from Germany and a royalty collected on each bale of paper thus stamped. This royalty only amounts to twopence on each case of oranges, and in view of the insignificant sum involved His Majesty's Government consider it better to allow the issue of certificates of interest, each costing 5s. in the case of oranges packed in this stamped paper, than to interfere with the Spanish paper and gold leaf and printing industries concerned.