HC Deb 23 March 1925 vol 182 cc22-3
46. Colonel DAY

asked the Prime Minister if any of the Governments that have expressed their adherence to the Geneva Protocol have ratified their representatives' signatures?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Ronald McNeill)

So far as His Majesty's Government are aware, no country has yet ratified the Protocol.

72. Mr. DALTON

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Law Officers of the Crown have advised that Article 5 of the Geneva Protocol weakens the reservations of Article 15 of the Covenant of the League of Nations, which were designed to prevent any interference by the League in matters of domestic jurisdiction; if so, whether he will communicate their opinions in writing to this House; and, if not, on the basis of what other advice, if any, did he declare in Geneva that Article 5 of the Protocol had this effect?

Mr. McNEILL

The statement of my right hon. Friend at Geneva is to be the subject of debate to-morrow, and perhaps the hon. Member will be good enough to defer till then the discussion of details such as that referred to in his question.

Mr. DALTON

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this statement is in direct conflict with the statement the British Legal Adviser made on the 30th December last at Geneva?

Mr. McNEILL

That is just one of the details which I would ask the hon. Member to postpone till to-morrow.