HC Deb 13 December 1927 vol 211 cc2067-8
48. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

asked the Prime Minister why His Majesty's Government has not ratified the convention against gas and bacteriological warfare agreed upon at Geneva and initialed or signed by our representatives in view of the ratification by the French Government?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. G. Locker-Lampson)

I have been asked to reply. His Majesty's Government have decided not to ratify until all other important Powers have ratified the protocol or have signified their intention of doing so.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

If every Power is to take this view, how are we to make any progress at all? We shall never get anything done.

Mr. LOCKER-LAMPS0N

This is no new precedent. There are agreements of this character. Our attitude is that we do not ratify except in concert with the other chief Powers.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that we are getting a very bad name for initialing agreements and then refusing to honour the signatures of our representatives for one excuse or another?

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