§ Viscount Hinchingbrookeasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the conditions of ratification of the Charter of the United Nations by the requisite number of signatory States have been fulfilled; and whether the Charter is now in force.
Mr. McNeilUnder Article 110the Charter enters into force upon the deposit with the United States Government of ratifications by the United Kingdom, the United States, the U.S.S.R., China and France (that is, the five Permanent Members of the Security Council), and by a majority of the other signatories. I understand that 39 States have so far ratified the Charter, but there have not yet been deposited at Washington the requisite number of instruments of ratification enabling it to come into force. The United Kingdom instrument of ratification was deposited on 20th October.