asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that a Perso-German treaty of friendship, to which are appended a domiciliary agreement, and a trade, customs, and shipping agreement, was signed in Teheran on 17th February; what is the position of Great Britain as regards her relations with Persia in these respects; and, seeing that the above-mentioned treaty may place this country at a disadvantage by comparison with Germany, will he initiate negotiations to establish similar relations with Persia?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Existing treaty relations between this country and Persia are based on the principle of reciprocal most-favoured-nation treatment, and there is no reason to apprehend that British subjects in Persia and their trade will be placed at a disadvantage by comparison with German nationals. Negotiations for a new general treaty of commerce and navigation have, however, already been initiated with the Persian Government.