§ 7. Brigadier - General CHARTERISasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Convention for the Abolition of Import and Export Prohibitions and Restrictions, recently signed at Geneva, has yet been ratified by any other country; and whether this House will have an opportunity of discussing the Convention before ratification by this country?
§ Mr. HACKINGThe Convention has not yet been ratified by any country. As 387 explained by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, in reply to a question on 15th November last, the Convention provides for a further Conference to be held in the Summer to determine the conditions required for the coming into force of the Convention, and it will not be possible to advise ratification before the results of that Conference are known.
§ Brigadier-General CHARTERISDoes the signature on behalf of the British Government involve any reason why that treaty should be taken into consideration in connection with matters of internal policy in our own country?
§ Mr. HACKINGI did not catch the middle part of the question.
§ Brigadier-General CHARTERISAs I understand it, the Convention has been signed. Does the signature of our representative mean that we will have to take it as ratified, as far as we are concerned, internally?
§ Mr. HACKINGNo, Sir. Since the Convention was signed some reservations have been handed in by other Powers. That is one reason why there should be a new Conference. It will probably be in June. Nothing is binding at all, as far as the present signature is concerned. Ratification is necessary before anything is binding.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYDoes that answer mean that, while the question is pending, no more import restrictions will be imposed or introduced by the present Government?
§ Mr. HACKINGNo, Sir. It has not that meaning.