§ Mr. Rostasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report the exchange of letters between the British Ambassador in Bonn and the Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Germany, on 4th May and 5th May 1976, concerning the right of consular officers of the Federal Republic of Germany in the United Kingdom to render consular services to all German citizens.
§ Mr. HattersleyThe texts of the letters exchanged on 5th May 1976 between Her Majesty's Ambassador in Bonn and the Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Germany were as follows:
Letter dated 5th May, 1976, from Sir Oliver Wright, KCMG, Her Majesty's Ambassador, Bonn to Herr Hans Dietrich Genscher, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany, dated 5th May 1976.
"Your Excellency,
In response to your inquiry, I have the honour to inform you that a Consular Convention was signed on 4th May 1976 between the United Kingdom and the German Democratic Republic.
I am instructed to state on behalf of Her Majesty's Government that this Convention will not affect the right of Consular officers of the Federal Republic of Germany in the United Kingdom to continue to render consular services, within the 238W framework of the Consular Convention of 30th July 1956 between the United Kingdom and the Federal Republic of Germany, to all Germans as defined in Article 116 of the Basic Law, who so request.
Please accept, your Excellency, the assurance of my highest consideration."
Letter dated 5th May, 1976, from Herr Hans Dietrich Genscher to Sir Oliver Wright (translation)
"Your Excellency,
I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 5th May 1976.
On behalf of the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany, I thank you for this statement, which is understood as meaning that on the side of Her Majesty's Government it is not intended in concluding a Consular Convention with the German Democratic Republic to change the provisions of the Consular Convention of 30th July 1956.
The Government of the Federal Republic of Germany for its part does not claim to give consular services to Germans who are not in possession of appropriate personal documents, in so far as these persons do not request this.
Please accept, your Excellency, the assurance of my highest consideration."