mentioned must take any action required
by the convention.
So far as any action by the
Secretary of State is concerned, the only
immediate steps required are to circularize
the Colonies etc., with, a view to
obtaining their adhesion to the Convention.
Under Articles 23, and 24 ratification will
not take place until all the Powers..
have signed either the convention or
(in the case of Powers not represented
at the Conference) a supplementary
protocol, on behalf of themselves and their
colonies, etc., though if all the
signatures are not obtained by 31st
December 1912, a further conference
will be held to determine whether
the ratifications of those who have signed
cannot then be given.
The
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528
The Convention will only come in to
force three months after the receipt of the
{
last ratification; any legislation or
administrative regulations required by the
Convention must be got ready (the words
used are "seront redigés") within six
months of the Convention coming into force:
in the case of legislation being required
the bill must be presented to the legislative
body at latest in the first session after
the expiration of the above-mentioned six
months delay.
Thus if all the signatures are
received by the end of this year and
ratification follows immediately there
will still be a period of nine months within
which legislative or administrative action
can be taken i.e. up to the end of September
1913 at least.
Further the date at which such
legislation etc. shall come into force is
to be fixed by arrangement between the
contracting