Mr. MARK SYKESasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the agreement of 18th October, 1907, by The Hague Convention, No. 14, to prohibit the discharge of projectiles and explosives from balloons or by other new methods of a similar nature, signed and ratified on behalf of Great Britain, was also signed and ratified by Turkey and by Italy, and, if so, on what dates respectively; and can he state whether the prohibition has been observed both by Turkey and by Italy during the present war or by one of them only, and, if so, by which?
§ Sir E. GREYThe declaration drawn up at The Hague Conference prohibiting the discharge of projectiles from balloons, etc., was not signed by the Italian Plenipotentiaries. It was signed by the Turkish Plenipotentiaries, but has not been ratified by the Sultan. I have no information at present as to how far the principles laid down in the declaration have been observed or disregarded by the belligerents.