HC Deb 30 March 1955 vol 539 cc368-9
43. Mr. Sorensen

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what other Governments, as well as Her Majesty's Government, are bound by the Geneva Protocol of 1925, which forbids use of bacteriological and chemical weapons; and if he will publish the precise terms of the reservation of Her Majesty's Government in relation to the right to retaliate.

Lord John Hope

Yes, Sir. As the answer is long I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Sorensen

Why could not Her Majesty's Government be similarly bound in regard not merely to bacteriological and chemical weapons but also atomic and thermo-nuclear weapons? Why cannot the Government at least consider that kind of weapon as well

Lord John Hope

The Question on the Paper is about bacteriological and chemical weapons, and I have answered it.

Following is the answer:

LIST OF RATIFICATIONS AND ACCESSIONS TO THE PROTOCOL SIGNED AT GENEVA ON 17TH JUNE, 1925, FOR THE PROHIBITION OF THE USE IN WAR OF ASPHYXIATING, POISONOUS OR OTHER GASES AND OF BACTERIOLOGICAL METHODS OF WARFARE.

  1. (a) Ratification depositedCountry and Date
    • British Empire, 9th April, 1930.
    • Canada, 6th May, 1930.
    • India, 9th April, 1930.
    • Austria, 9th May, 1928
    • Belgium, 4th December, 1928.
    • Bulgaria, 7th March, 1934.
    • Chile, 2nd July, 1935.
    • Czechoslovakia, 16th August. 1938
    • Denmark, 5th May, 1930.
    • Egypt, 6th December, 1928.
    • Finland, 26th June, 1929.
    • France, 9th May, 1926.
    • Germany, 25th April, 1929.
    • Greece, 30th May, 1931.
    • Italy, 3rd April, 1928.
    • Luxembourg, 1st September, 1936.
    • Netherlands, 31st October, 1930.
    • Norway, 27th July, 1932.
    • Poland, 4th February, 1929.
    • Portugal, 1st July, 1930.
    • Roumania, 23rd August, 1929.
    • Siam, 6th June, 1931.
    • Spain, 22nd August, 1929.
    • Sweden, 25th April, 1930.
    • Switzerland, 12th July, 1932.
    • Turkey, 5th October, 1929.
    • Venezuela, 8th February, 1928.
    • Yugoslavia, 12th April, 1929.
  2. (b) Accessions
    • Australia, 23rd January, 1930.
    • Ceylon, 18th December, 1953.
    • New Zealand, 23rd January, 1930,
    • South Africa, 23rd January, 1930.
    • China, 7th August, 1929.
    • Ethiopia, 18th September, 1935.
    • Hungary, 21st October, 1952.
    • Irish Free State, 29th August, 1930.
    • Liberia, 2nd April, 1927.
    • Mexico, 15th March. 1932.
    • Persia, 4th July, 1929.
    • Soviet Union, 5th April, 1928.

His Majesty's Government's ratification was subject to the following reservations: (1st) that His Majesty is bound by the said Protocol only towards those Powers and States which have both signed and ratified the Protocol or have acceded thereto. (2nd) that His Majesty shall cease to be bound by the Protocol towards any Power at enmity with Him whose armed forces, or the armed forces of whose allies, do not respect the prohibitions forming the subject of this Protocol.