§ Mr. E. EVANSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has considered the articles of the Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, drawn up under the auspices of the Economic Committee of the League of Nations at Geneva, 24th September, 1931; whether he is able to give any information as to the steps taken by the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to ratify the Convention in accordance with Article 17 of the said Convention; and, if ratification or accession to the Convention has not yet been signified on behalf of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, whether it is proposed to take steps to expedite such ratification or accession?
§ Mr. EDENThe International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling was opened for signature at Geneva on 24th September, 1931, and remained open until 31st March last. Since that date the Convention has been open to accession by non-signatory States. The Convention is to enter into force three months after ratification or accession by not less than eight States, including the United Kingdom and Norway. A number of States have signed, but only two ratifications, those of the United States of America and Norway, have so far been deposited. The Sudan, Nicaragua, Monaco and Austria have, however, acceded (in the case of Austria subject to ratification). His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom have also signed the Convention, and it is their intention to deposit their instrument of ratification as soon as possible. Before this can be done, however, it will be necessary to pass certain legislation in order to enable His 1623W Majesty's Government to enforce the Convention. The draft of a Bill for this purpose is now in preparation and will be submitted to Parliament in due course.