REPORT OF THE TRADE BARRIERS COMMITTEE
TREATMENT OF FOREIGNERS AND LEGAL AND, SOCIAL DISCRIMINATIONS.
Believing it essential that laws governing the treat- formalities, would have the great advantage of binding
ment of foreigners should be as uniform and liberal the signatory States, whose number could not but
as possible, and convinced that mere recommendations increase as the advantages of uniformity became more
are lacking in force and of uncertain effect, the Trade generally recognized.
Barriers Committee strongly urges a general international
convention concerning laws governing the treatment of
foreigners.
Such a convention, along the lines of the Transport- |
ation Conferences of Barcelona and Geneva, for the The Trade Barriers Committee puts forward the
settlement of certain transport questions, or of that following propositions as to the contents of the proposed
of Geneva in 1925. for the simplification of customs international convention.
TERMS OF ADMISSION OF F OREIGNERS, CONFINED TO PASSPORT F ORMALITIES, AND
TO THE TREATMENT OF FOREIGNERS AS REGARDS THE RIGHT OF RESIDENCE
AND ESTABLISHMENT (1)
a) Passport visas. national labour markets, for the regulation of emigration
and immigration, | i
Whereas compulsory visas considerably hamper the Whereas compulsory visas have already been done
liberty of movement of business men, and are an equally away with by a number of States, as a result of special
great barrier to invisible exports represented by the or reciprocal agreements, and that the extension of
tourist trade which is of great importance, this reform to all States where political and economic
Wh ther means than compulsory visas exist conditions permit, would be but the natural result of
éfeas other means omp y Jo this example, thus doing away with unfair discrimin-
for the police supervision of foreigners, for the elimin- ation between the nationals of different countrice
ation of undesirable elements, for the protection of ;
The Trade Barriers Committee recommends the
conclusion of an international convention abolishing
(1) The Trade Barriers Committee was unanimously of opinion that between the signatory States and for all classes of tra-
all questions of immigration and of emigration should be left out vellers the obligation of having lo obtain a visa to enter
of its discussions, as it was qualified to discuss them neither by its or pass through any country.
composition nor its organization. Although these questions are of i
the utmost importance to the economic restoration of the world and All States members of the League of Nations or
ought os rapiely as Bousible to pe made the able of Prrernational invited by it would have the right to adhere to this
fegulation, elr political and social charac er 15 so repon + . .
they are beyond the scope of the inquiry conducted by the Trade Barriers Convention. In the case of States whose constitution
Committee. or laws make it impossible for them to protect their
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