§ 10. Mr. GRIFFITHSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give any information regarding the position of the International Relief Union initiated by the League of Nations; and, seeing that 30 Governments had acceded to the Diplomatic Convention by the end of April and that 570 shares of the initial fund had thus been guaranteed; that according to Article 18 of the Convention it is stated that the Convention may come into force 399 when ratifications or accessions have been deposited in the name of 12 States of which the combined contributions amount to 600 shares; and that the accession of His Majesty's Government would secure the necessary number of shares, whether he will now accede to the Convention?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINAlthough the Convention establishing the International Relief Union has been signed by 30 States, it has so far only been ratified by five. It is therefore not accurate to say that 570 shares have been guaranteed, for such shares can only be taken into account if the States who have signed have also ratified. His Majesty's Government in Great Britain have decided to accede to the Convention and will shortly notify the Secretary-General of the League of Nations to that effect. I am, of course, unable to state whether after their accession a sufficient number of other States with the necessary number of shares will ratify the Convention so that it may thereby enter into force.