§ 27. Sir BASIL PETOasked the President of the Board of Trade whether all the five principal maritime Powers have ratified the Safety of Life at Sea Convention; and whether, if they have not done so before the end of December, he intends to put the reversal of helm orders in force in the British merchant service on 1st January?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe following countries have ratified and will bring the International Safety of Life at Sea Convention into operation on the 1st January, 1933: United Kingdom, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and Sweden. Steps are being taken to bring the provisions of the Merchant Shipping (Safety and Load Line Conventions) Act, 1932, including those relating to Helm Orders into operation on that date.
§ Sir B. PETOAs the United States is not included in the list of countries which have ratified the Convention, can the right hon. Gentleman say whether there is any probability of the United States ratifying between now and the 1st January next?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANAccording to the information which has reached me, the question has been considered by the Foreign Relations Committee, and they have deferred a decision until after Congress meets.