§ 54. Mr. DICKINSONasked the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's Govern- 33 ment intend to reintroduce the Naval Prize Bill this Session; and, if not, whether, in view of the facts that the failure of Great Britain to ratify the Declaration of London is tending to postpone the summoning of the third Hague Conference, and that the Naval Prize Bill obtained the assent of the House of Commons in 1911, the Government will advise His Majesty to ratify that Declaration without further delay?
§ The PRIME MINISTERWith regard to the first part of the question, I can at present add nothing to the answer given to the hon. Member for the Blackfriars Division of Glasgow on the 5th March, to the effect that the Government hope to reintroduce the Naval Prize Bill this Session, but are unable to make a definite statement. With regard to the second part, His Majesty cannot be advised to ratify an international treaty until the municipal law of this country has been so amended as to enable the Government to fulfil the obligations thereby assumed.