§ 8. Mr. MANDERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British ratification of the Optional Clause of the Permanent Court of International Justice has now been deposited at Geneva; what other ratifications have taken place or are expected in the near future; and how many States in all have now both signed and ratified the clause?
Mr. A. HENDERSONYes, Sir. The ratification of the Optional Clause in respect of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was deposited at Geneva on the 5th February. According to the latest information in my possession 41 members of the League have signed the Optional Clause, of whom 22 have deposited their ratifications. Others, including New Zealand and the Union of South Africa, have already taken the necessary steps with a view to ratification, and the deposit of their instruments may, therefore, shortly be expected. With the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate the names in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. MANDERHas not the Irish Free State recently ratified also?
Mr. HENDERSONNo. I think they have not taken the final step, so far as I am aware. I understand that Ireland have signed, but have not yet deposited their ratification.
§ Following are the names:
| States which have deposited their ratifications. | |
| Abyssinia. | Haiti. |
| Austria. | Hungary. |
| Belgium. | India. |
| Brazil. | Norway. |
| Bulgaria. | Netherlands. |
| Denmark. | Panama. |
| Estonia. | Portugal. |
| Finland. | Spain. |
| Germany. | Sweden. |
| Great Britain. | Switzerland. |
| Greece. | Uruguay. |
| States which have signed the Optional Clause but have not yet ratified. | |
| Australia. | Liberia. |
| Canada. | Lithuania. |
| Costa Rica. | Luxemburg. |
| Czechoslovakia. | New Zealand. |
| Dominican Republic. | Nicaragua. |
| Peru. | |
| France. | Salvador. |
| Guatemala. | Siam. |
| Irish Free State. | Union of South Africa. |
| Italy. | |
| Latvia. |