§ Mr. MALONEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the Chilean delegation to the International Conference now sitting at The Hague, and dealing with the nationality of married women, has put forward a proposal that the contracting parties shall agree that from the going into effect of the Convention there shall be no distinction based on sex in their law or practice relating to nationality; and what instructions have been given to the British delegates as to the attitude they are to adopt towards this proposal?
Mr. A. HENDERSONThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As I informed my hon. Friend on the 12th instant, His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom are in favour of the principle that a British woman who marries an alien should not lose her nationality without her consent, and the instructions to the delegation of the United Kingdom have been framed accordingly. The proposal of the Chilean delegation goes beyond this, as it involves the nationality of the children. This is a question requiring very careful consideration, and I am unable to state at present what further instructions will be sent to the delegation.