HC Deb 15 September 1914 vol 66 cc867-8
28. Sir J. D. REES

asked the Attorney-General whether Articles 1 and 2 of Convention VI. of the Final Act of the Second Peace Conference at The Hague are imperative; and whether Articles 3 and 4 of the same Convention are binding upon Great Britain in their entirety and on Germany only subject to the reserves with which she accepted such articles?

Sir J. SIMON

Articles 1 and 2 of Convention VI. were agreed to both by this country and by Germany, and will of course be observed by us if Germany observes them; Article 3 and the second paragraph of Article 4 were not assented to by Germany, and therefore do not in any way bind this country as regards Germany in the present War.

Sir J. D. REES

Is is not a fact that they were accepted by Germany subject to certain reservations?

Sir J. SIMON

The reservations were to certain articles of the Treaty, namely—Article 3 and the second paragraph of Article 4.