§ 41. Mr. FORRESTasked the Home Secretary how many Powers have ratified the Protocol concluded at the recent second opium conference in Geneva; and whether he can, as a result, make any statement as to when the central board is to come into existence?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI think the hon. Member refers to the Convention concluded by the second conference, one chapter of which provides for the establishment of a central board. We have not heard that any Power has so far ratified the Convention, and in view of the short time which has elapsed since the close of the conference, it is hardly probable that any have done so. The central board cannot be appointed until the convention has come into force, and the convention does not come into force until it has been ratified by ten Powers, including seven of those by whom the board is to be appointed.