Mr. Terlezkiasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is satisfied with the level of precautions taken to prevent the smuggling into the United Kingdom of firearms and other weapons via diplomatic bags.
Mr. WhitneyYes. We are precluded by the provisions of article 27 of the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations from opening or detaining diplomatic bags, but diplomatic missions are well aware of the need for strict compliance with our laws concerning firearms. If evidence were to come to light that these laws had been flouted by a person enjoying diplomatic immunity, we should not hesitate to take firm action.