§ Mr. Rifkindasked the Secretary' of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will forbid officials of his Department from certifying or signing documents of a negative or discriminatory nature presently required by the Government of Iraq in pursuit of its policy of boycott against Israel.
§ Mr. LuardIt would be contrary to international practice for officials of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to refuse to legalise any document required for presentation in a foreign country, when they are satisfied as to the genuineness of the signature, seal and the signatory's capacity to countersign such a document. Such legalisation does not relate to the contents of the document itself. The practice of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in this respect is not discriminatory.
§ Mr. Rifkindasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to what extent officials of his Department are prepared to certify or sign documents of a negative or discriminatory nature which are required by businessmen wishing to export goods to Iraq.
§ Mr. LuardOfficials of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are prepared.914W in accordance with international practice, to legalise documents required for presentation in foreign countries. The legalisation certificate appended to such a document authenticates only the signature of the notary public or other public official, his seal and the signatory's capacity to countersign such a document. It does not relate in any way to the contents of the document itself.